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MERRY  MEETING  BAY. 


AN    OLD    MOUNTAINEER. 


"These  mountains,  forests,  lakes,  and  plains 
Have  echoed  oft  my  cantie  strains  j 
But  now  what  else  for  me  remains 

But  tales  of  woe  ? 
The  streamlets  frae  thy  crimson  stains 
Maun  onward  flow." 


BOSTON: 
KELLEY   &   BROTHER. 

1856. 


LOAN  STACK 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1854,  b/ 
I.   W.   SCRIBNER, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


STBBEOTYFBD    AT     THI 
BOSTON    STBBBOTTFB    lOCXDBf, 


ys6 

S43< 


TO 


THE   OLD   GRANITE   STATE 
f|ll  jjumbU  M0rk 

IS  MOST   RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 


ONE    OF    HER    LOYAL    SONS, 


(3) 


73G 


PREFACE. 


The  principal  scenes  in  the  following  legends  are  based  for 
the  most  part  on  authenticated  historical  facts-  The  chief  aim 
of  the  author  has  been  to  exhibit  Nature  in  her  wildest  and 
most  startling  developments  as  well  as  in  her  tamer  and  more 
civilized  features.  All  nations,  whether  civilized  or  savage, 
have  some  choice  spirits  who  excel  their  fellows  in  natural  and 
intrinsic  worth  and  goodness,  as  well  as  others  of  a  character 
diametrically  the  opposite.  Yet,  as  a  whole,  every  nation  seems 
to  exhibit  the  same  general  traits  of  oppression,  cruelty,  and 
injustice,  especially  when  holding  another  and  a  feebler  race 
under  its  despotic  sway. 

The  treatment  of  the  red  man  by  the  first  settlers  of  our  own 
country  forms  no  exception  to  this  general  rule ;  and  in  this 
case  the  difficulties  which  arose  between  them  were  aggravated 
by  the  wide  and  marked  contrast  between  the  contending  races. 
"While  the  white  man  is  most  attached  to  the  living,  the  red  man 
cherishes  with  the  deepest  affection  the  memory  of  the  departed 
dead ;  and  while  the  former  prizes  more  highly  the  costly  houses 

i*  (i) 


6  PREFACE. 

and  cultivated  fields  of  civilization,  the  latter  loves  the  rude 
wigwam,  the  lands  unbroken  by  the  plough,  and  the  wild  forests 
as  yet  unspoiled  by  the  woodman's  axe. 

To  show  how  unjustly  he  has  been  cheated  of  his  possessions 
and  driven  from  the  graves  of  his  fathers,  to  which  he  was  at- 
tached by  a  feeling  the  depth  and  intensity  of  which  the  white 
man  has  little  conception,  how  he  strove  to  avenge  his  wrongs 
by  taking  the  lives  of  his  oppressors,  has  been  one  of  the  ends 
which  the  author  has  had  in  view  while  writing  the  following 
pages.  He  does  not  claim  to  have  succeeded  in  his  undertaking 
to  any  extraordinary  degree ;  but  the  world  is  welcome  to  the 
work,  such  as  it  is,  until  it  can  get  a  better,  when,  as  Marine  Lee 
would  say,  "  The  little  craft  may  be  taken  into  dock  for  repairs, 
or  sent  adrift  as  unseaworthy." 


I.  W.  S. 


Lowell,  Massachusetts,  July,  1854. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Description  of  Laconia.  —  May  Day  at  Merry  Meeting  Bay.  —  Elsie 
Tufton  is  chosen  May  Queen.  —  Appearance  of  Itozella  Langdell  and 
her  Father.  —  Elsie  abdicates  in  Favor  of  Rozella.  —  Jack  Taurus  re- 
solves to  win  the  Hand  of  Rozella.  —  He  encounters  a  Rival  in 
Britton  Waldron 13 


CHAPTER  II. 

Exploration  of  the  White  Mountains  by  Neal.  —  Superstitions  of  the 
Indians  concerning  the  same 


CHAPTER  III. 

Dolly  Plot's  Island  and  her  Schemes.  —  Betrothal  of  Charles  Cutts  and 
Elsie  Tufton 35 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Departure  of  the  Settlers  to  the  Garrisons  on  the  Cocheco.  —  Rozella 
returns  for  her  Bundle.  —  She  is  waylaid  by  Taurus  and  Janus.  — 
Surprise  and  Massacre  of  the  Garrisons,  and  Death  of  the  handsome 
Cross 42 


CHAPTER  V. 

Elsie  Tufton' s  Insanity.  —  Rozella  at  Norridgewock  and  the  Catholic 
Chapel.  —  Little  Owega  and  the  Profile  Leaf.  —  Rozella's  Incarcera- 
tion in  a  subterranean  Cell .55 

(7) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Incident  on  the  Route  to  Norridgewock.  —  Sebagcj  ^ajce,  and  first  Ap- 
pearance of  the  Aurora  Borealis  on  the  western  Continent.  .        .      66 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Rozella  in  the  Lodge  of  Bomazeen.  —  She  offers  to  teach  the  young  In- 
dians to  read  in  Preference  to  making  Baskets  and  "Wampum.  —  Her 
Scheme  to  prejudice  the  Indians  with  the  Fish 72 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Scene  at  Dolly  Plot's  Hut  on  the  Island.  —  Dolly  tells  Taurus's  Fortune 
for  the  first  Time.  —  Dolly  in  her  "Witch  Character,  and  Fright  of  her 
Companions 76 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Scenery  of  Norridgewock.  —  Another  Interview  between  Rozella,  the 
Priest,  and  Mogg  Hegon.  —  Arrival  of  the  Soldiers  at  Norridgewock. 
—  Interview  between  Squire  Langdell  and  Waldron,  and  the  Squire's 
Pledge  of  Rozella.  —  Dreadful  Slaughter  of  the  Indians.  —  Death  of 
Father  Ralle  and  Recapture  of  Rozella 87 


CHAPTER  X. 

Rozella's  Return  and  Interview  with  Elsie  Tuf ton.  — Elsie  Tufton's  Re- 
covery and  Rozella's  Christian  Admonition.  .        .        .        .        .    103 


CHAPTER  XL 

Meeting  of  Mrs.  Langdell  with  the  returned  Captives  and  Friends.  — 
Phantom  Marine  and  the  Ghost  at  Buck's  Horn  Inn.  .        .        .    108 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Social  Meeting  at  the  House  of  Squire  Langdell.  —  Story  of  the  Phantom 
Ship  by  Marine.  —  The  Widow  Lee  full  in  Love  with  the  Narrator.  — 
First  Appearance  of  the  Man  with  the  twinkle  Eye.    .        .        .        .116 


CHAPTER  XIIL 

Paugus  Battle  so  called.  —Death  of  Paugus  and  Black  Fish.  —  Chocorua 
made  Chief. .    128 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


Dolly  Plot  has  another  Interview  with  her  Associates.  —  The  Dutchman 
of  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  and  the  Traveller 141 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Laconia  at  early  Spring  Time.  —  Peace.  —  The  nervous  Man  turns  out  to 
be  the  famous  John  Puddington,  the  Witch  Hunter.  —  His  Applica- 
tion to  Squire  Langdell  for  a  Warrant  for  Dolly  Plot.  —  George 
Whitefield  appears  in  Laconia 147 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Meeting  of  the  Mountain  Rangers  on  the  Eve  of  their  Departure  to  Cape 
Breton.  —  Rozella  presents  them  a  Banner.  —  Her  Speech  and  its 
Reception.  —  Rozella's  Song. 155 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Chocorua  and  his  Son  Wenane.  —  Taurus  and  Janus  discovered  behind 
High  Rock.  — Their  Discovery  by  Elsie  and  Wenane.  —  Scene  between 
the  Rock  and  Cave,  where  they  were  routed  by  Wenane.    .        .        .    165 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  Letter  from  the  Fortune  Teller  found  by  the  Rock.  —  Meeting  be- 
tween Rozella  and  Wenane 176 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  old  Tinker  and  his  Workmanship.  —  Rozella  has  the  Fowl  dressed 
for  the  Sick.  —  Her  Description  of  blind  Sarah  Dustin.  —  Old  Mrs. 
Emond.  —  Death  of  little  Henry  Gates 186 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Rainy  Morning.  —  Rozella's  Departure  on  her  Errand  of  Mercy.  —  Her 
Capture  by  Taurus  and  Janus,  and  her  Rescue  by  Wenane.         .        .    193 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Return  of  Rozella  and  Wenane,  and  their  Interview  with  the  Family.  — 
Wenane's  Sickness.  —  Determination  of  Squire  Langdell  to  capture 
Taurus  and  Janus.— The  Success  of  the  Settlers  in  their  Capture  of 
the  same. 


10  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Hunt  for  Taurus  and  Janus.— The  Flight  of  Taurus.  —  Capture  of 
Janus  and  Dolly  Plot,  and  their  Banishment 208 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Appearance  of  Chocorua  at  the  Squire's  House  for  Rozella. — Wenane's 
Sickness  increases.  —  Rozella  visits  Wenane.  —  Sad  Interview  between 
them.  —  Song  of  the  Spirit  Huntsman,  and  sung  by  Rozella  to  the 
dying  Wenane.  —  "Wenane's  Death 211 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

.'3uiial  of  Wenane.  —  Chocorua  digs  up  the  Battle  Axe.  —  The  Chief  ac- 
companies Rozella  Home.  —  Pike's  Interview  with  the  Chief.      .       .    224 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Burning  of  Grovenor's  House  by  Chocorua.  —  Capture  of  the  Tufton 
Family.  —  The  Settlers  rally  and  depart  for  their  Recapture  and  to 
destroy  Chocorua.  — Fairy  Scene  in  the  Woods. —  The  Enchanted  Wolf 
or  wild  Spirit  of  the  Mountains.  —  Some  Smart 233 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Interview  between  Rozella  and  Chocorua.  —  Battle  at  Bear  Camp  Stream. 
—  Capture  of  Chocorua .      246 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Chocorua's  dying  Speech.  —  His  Death.  —  Speeches  of  his  Captors,  each 
after  his  own  peculiar  Style  of  Oratory. 264 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Attack  by  the  Wolves  upon  the  English  in  the  Lodge.  —  Invocation  of 
the  Enchanted  Wolf.  —  He  disperses  the  genuine  Species.  —  Return 
of  the  English,  and  their  Determination  and  Appointment  of  a  Meet- 
ing to  raise  the  Enchanted  Wolf  themselves 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Rejoicing  of  the  Settlers  at  the  Death  of  Chocorua.  — -  Meeting  and  Suc- 
cess of  the  Inhabitants  in  raising  the  Wolf.  —  Incidents  of  the  Even- 
ing, and  Song 278 


CONTENTS.  11 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Owega  takes  the  Appellation  of  Queen  of  the  Mountains.  —  The  Supper. 
—  Surprisal  by  the  Indians 286 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Return  of  the  Mountain  Rangers  from  Cape  Breton.  —  Their  Success 
there.  —  Their  warm  Reception  at  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell.  — 
Waldron's  Sickness 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

"Waldron's  Sickness  and  Recovery.  —  He  is  informed  of  the  Capture  of 
Rozella.  —  Visit  of  his  Friends.  —  Waldron's  Visit  to  Merry  Meeting 
Bay,  and  his  Despondency 315 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Soldiers  meet  for  a  new  Expedition  at  Buck's  Horn  Inn.  —  Arrival  of 
Comical  Plump  and  George  English.  —  The  Departure.        .        .        .    330 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Capture  of  the  Langdells  and  Tuftons.  —  Description  of  the  Mountain 
Passes  and  Scenery.  —  Burning  of  Grovenor.  —  Arrival  at  St.  Francis. 
—  Stark  and  Eastman  run  the  Gantlet. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Route  of  the  Mountain  Rangers.  —  Conversation  among  the  Officers.  — 
Ghost  Story  by  English.  —  Proceedings  after  the  Battle  of  Ticonderoga.    377 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

A  Fool  reconnoitres  the  Lodges  at  St.  Francis.  —  His  Flute  Playing  and 
Plot  to  ascertain  if  Palefaces  are  there.  —  The  Indian  Guard  and  Old 
Owl  King's  Nest 406 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Mountain  Rangers  and  the  Fool  meet  at  the  great  Lake.  —  The  Conversa- 
tion. —  They  reach  the  Owl  King's  Nest.  —  Great  Battle  at  St.  Fran- 
cis. —  Plot  discovered  and  Characters  revealed 421 


12  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Visit  to  the  Battle  Ground.  — Comical   Plump's   Notions   respecting 
Fighting 438 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Departure  from  St.  Francis  for  Laconia.  —  Skirmish  with  the  Indians 
and  other  Incidents  by  the  Wayside.  —  They  leave  for  Home. — 
Charles  Cutts  and  Elsie  Tufton's  Route 442 


CHAPTER  XL. 

The  Mountain  Rangers  and  Captives  reach  Winnipiseogee  Lake. — De- 
pression of  Spirits  in  Consequence  of  Cutts  and  Elsie's  Absence.  — 
Home  again.  —  Wedding  of  Britton  Waldron  and  Rozella  Langdon.  .    455 


CHAPTER  XLL 

Fate  of  Charles  Cutts  and  Elsie  Tufton.  —  Little  Benedict  and  Split  Rock. 
—  Rozella's  new  Trouble 463 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

Confession  and  Death  of  Taurus.  —  His  Letter.  —  Sickness  of  Rozella.  — 
Her  Restoration.  —  State  of  Laconia. — Waldron  and  Rozella  visit  the 
Graves  of  their  dear  departed  ones,  and  their  Remarks  there.     .        .    479 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA 


CHAPTER    I. 


Description  op  Laconia.  —  May  Day  at  Merry  Meeting  Bay.  —  El- 
sie  TUFTON  IS  CHOSEN  MAY  QUEEN.  —  APPEABANCE    OF   B,OZELLA  LANG- 

dell  and  her  father.  —  elsie  abdicates  in  favor  of  rozella.  — 
Jack  Taurus  resolves  to  win  the  Hand  of  Kozella.  —  He  encoun- 
ters a  Rival  in  Britton  Waldron. 


Laconia,  the  original  appellation  of  New  Hampshire, 
of  which  we  now  purpose  to  speak,  lies  in  an  inclined 
slope  from  the  seaboard  on  the  east  to  where  the  Great 
Spirit  smiles  in  combined  loveliness  and  grandeur  upon 
the  glittering  surface  of  the  Winnipiseogee  on  the  west. 

To  the  north  she  stretches  away  through  the  brave  old 
woods  and  forests  until  her  head  is  lost  in  the  clouds  upon 
the  summits  of  the  White  Mountains,  which  stand  like 
monstrous  haystacks  tumbled  together,  and  still  stretch- 
ing upward  and  onward  until  their  bald  heads  are  capped 
and  concealed  by  encircling  mists.  But  when  the  air  is 
clear  and  the  sun  has  dispersed  the  overhanging  vapors, 
they  stand  out  in  all  their  awful  majesty,  and  seem  the 
very  pillars  of  heaven. 

Still  the  romantic  Laconia  sighs  restlessly  with  the  bur- 
den of  her  secret  mysteries,  her  untold  legends,  and  her 
heroic  deeds  of  valor,  which  have  been  long  buried  deep 
within  her  silent  bosom  ;  so  that,  heretofore,  neither  the 
2  (13) 


14  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

ocean  that  breaks  at  her  feet  nor  the  thunders  that  burst 
in  her  ears  have  caused  her  to  divulge  her  locked-up 
secrets. 

But  as  the  sun  strikes  his  rays  upon  the  frosty  locks  of 
winter,  and  turns  its  frozen  bolts  until  the  cemented  earth 
yields,  and  the  roots  of  plant  and  tree  send  forth  their  of- 
ferings in  shooting  stalks,  and  buds,  and  blossoms,  so  the 
rays  of  the  spirit  of  inquisitiveness  have  dissolved  the  icy 
mantle  upon  the  hidden  bosom  of  Laconia,  and  she  offers 
to  our  gaze  her  most  secret  mysteries.  Her  rural  page  is 
now  thrown  open  for  the  recording  pen  to  inscribe  her 
chivalrous  deeds  and  marvellous  history. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  this  portion  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, if  one  locality  might  have  been  selected  above 
another  for  its  picturesque  beauty,  that  district  lying  be- 
tween a  small  bay  of  Winnipiseogee  Lake  and  a  pond 
some  miles  distant,  and  a  lively,  bounding  river  which 
connected  the  two  last,  would  have  received  the  prefer- 
ence. These  three  portions  of  the  same  brilliant  waters 
had  received  the  happy  appellation  of  "  Merry  Meeting." 

Some  years  previous  to  the  time  of  which  we  write  this 
section  of  country  had  been  holden  under  a  grant  from 
King  James,  through  his  appointed  council  of  forty  noble- 
men, knights,  and  gentlemen,  by  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  and 
Captain  John  Mason.  Mason  obtained  of  Gorges  full  pos- 
session of  the  lands,  and  at  his  death  gave  the  same,  by 
will,  to  his  grandson,  Robert  Tufton,  on  condition  that  he 
took  upon  himself  the  surname  of  Mason.  Tufton,  having 
complied  with  the  condition  of  the  bequest,  had  his  title 
disputed  by  the  stern  yeomanry  who  had  taken  up  the  land 
and  were  living  upon  and  improving  the  same.  But  after 
years  of  dispute  and  numerous  harassing  lawsuits,  a  com 
pany,  formed  for  that  purpose,  purchased,  for  a  nominal 
sum,  Mason's  title,  and  gave  out  deeds  to  the  first  settlers. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  Masonian  proprietors  sent  out  a 


LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA.  15 

committee  of  their  body,  who  visited  the  land  for  the  pur- 
pose of  exploration,  and  at  the  pond  before  named  became 
so  exhilarated  at  the  scenery  and  prospect,  and  enjoyed 
themselves  so  highly,  as  to  christen  it  "  Merry  Meeting  ; " 
which  name  it  retains  to  the  present  day. 

But  a  more  merry  meeting  than  that  held  by  the  Maso- 
nian  proprietors  was  assembled  upon  the  same  enchanting 
spot  at  a  subsequent  day.  The  river,  or  outlet  of  the 
pond,  runs  from  its  shore  so  as  to  form  a  right  angle  with 
its  white,  sandy  beach.  In  that  angle,  Nature,  as  though 
she  was  proud  of  her  artistic  skill  in  laying  out  secluded 
parks  and  grounds,  had  wisely  reserved,  and  the  wood- 
man's axe  as  prudently  spared,  one  of  the  most  pic- 
turesque groves  in  all  the  fairyland  of  Laconia. 

This  spot,  by  reason  of  its  appropriate  name  and  desira- 
ble location,  was  selected  by  the  older  settlers,  the  pre- 
vious autumn,  for  a  meeting,  in  the  spring,  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  community,  to  revive,  for  the  first  time  in 
all  Laconia,  the  long-missed  and  mourned  holiday  they 
had  so  dearly  cherished  in  Old  England.  Therefore,  for 
months  previous,  May  day  had  been  the  theme  and  topic 
of  discourse  for  young  and  old.  Such  as  were  lovers  had 
long  been  planning  in  what  way  to  best  advance  the  inter- 
est each  of  his  own  particular  favorite,  that  he  might  be 
successful  in  his  scheme  of  cupidity,  and  elevate  her  to  the 
sylvan  throne  as  May  Queen,  where  she  would  wear  the 
imperial  crown,  and  be  the  toast  and  bear  the  sway  for  a 
"  twelvemonth  "  to  come  ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  the  loved 
and  lovely  had  been  no  less  anxious  to  anticipate  whose 
fair  brow  was  to  receive  the  blossoming  coronal  of  Flora. 

The  May  pole  had  been  previously  prepared,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  first  of  May  was  lying,  appropriately  dec- 
orated, upon  the  soft  bed  of  creeping  evergreen  in  the 
centre  of  the  grove.  The  grove  itself  had  for  some  days 
previous  given  indications  of  the  speedy  approach  of 


16  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

warmer  weather,  and  its  buds  had  been  swollen  nearly  to 
bursting.  They  now  peered  out  through  their  velvet 
lashes  at  the  unwonted  scene  below  them,  and  finally 
opened  wide  their  eyelids,  as  if  in  utter  astonishment  at 
the  novel  spectacle. 

Merry  voices  were  heard  in  all  directions ;  and  joyous 
bursts  of  laughter,  peal  on  peal,  rung  through  the  grove  ; 
while  the  tread  of  pattering  feet  announced  that  the  grove 
was  fast  filling  with  the  young,  the  gay,  and  the  beautiful. 

Many  of  the  company  were  from  towns  so  distant  as  to 
have  made  it  necessary  for  them  to  travel  half  of  the 
night ;  and  their  restless  horses  kept  up  a  continual  neigh- 
ing and  stamping,  which,  mingling  with  the  loud  and 
cheerful  voices  of  their  riders,  gave  additional  life  and 
animation  to  the  exciting  scene.  Even  animated  Nature 
herself  seemed  to  partake  in  the  festive  occasion  :  the 
robin  poured  forth  his  loudest  notes  upon  the  topmost 
branches  of  the  swaying  trees ;  the  bluebird  piped  high  his 
spring-reminding  strain  ;  and  the  blue  jay  chattered  his 
noisiest  response  and  turned  his  most  surprising  somersets 
among  the  waving  limbs  ;  while  above  the  open  spaces  of 
the  grove  the  swallow  whirled  and  twittered,  and  cut  a 
thousand  fantastic  figures  in  the  air. 

In  the  midst  of  this  unbounded  excitement,  and  as  if  to 
add  a  still  higher  zest  to  the  general  delight,  the  sun  and 
the  May  pole  rose  at  one  and  the  same  time ;  at  which 
events  the  youthful  portion  of  the  assembly  broke  out  in 
higher  cheers  and  wilder  strains.  The  glorious  old  sun 
shot  his  golden  beams  and  enlivening  rays  through  the 
woodland  ;  and  the  sparkling  eyes  of  twenty  expectant 
damsels  reflected  rays,  if  not  as  lustrous  and  diffusive,  cer- 
tainly, to  those  upon  whom  they  chanced  to  fall,  as  wel- 
come and  exhilarating. 

Upon  their  way  through  the  fields  and  woods,  every 
green  sprig  and  shoot,  together  with  all  the  early  spring 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  17 

flowers,  had  been  gathered  for  the  wreath  or  crown  for 
the  May  Queen.  The  garland  was  now  woven,  and  the 
evergreen  and  myrtle,  the  dewdrop,  and  violet,  and  wake- 
robin,  with  such  other  flowers  as  had  yet  blossomed,  were 
charmingly  and  tastefully  intwined  therein. 

But,  now  came  the  question  of  questions  —  who  should 
be  the  favored  and  fortunate  nymph  who  should  wear  it, 
and  bear  off  the  chief  prize  of  the  day  to  celebrate  which 
they  had  assembled.  And  as  the  young  men  were  en- 
gaged in  canvassing  the  exciting  question,  many  a  fair 
one  overheard  the  mention  of  her  name  ;  and  as  the  sound 
fell  upon  her  attentive  ear  it  caused  the  blood  to  course 
quicker  through  her  veins,  deepening  the  warm  flush 
upon  the  cheek,  and  imparting  an  added  brilliancy  to  the 
flashing  eye.  But  a  brief  discussion  sufficed  to  convince 
the  young  men  that,  in  order  to  make  a  selection,  each 
must  yield  something  of  his  claim  in  behalf  of  his  favorite, 
and,  as  only  one  could  be  chosen,  they  would  (dropping 
their  personal  preferences)  cast  their  votes  for  the  loveliest 
and  purest  —  not,  however,  but  all  were  equally  worthy. 

They  now  proceeded  to  ballot ;  and  when  all  had  voted, 
Britton  Waldron,  who  was  selected  to  sort  and  count  the 
votes,  declared  that  Miss  Elsie  Tufton  was  chosen  to  bear 
the  honors  of  the  day  by  a  majority  of  three  over  all  others. 
The  woods  now  rang  wilder  than  ever  ;  the  lads  threw  up 
their  hats,  and  the  lasses  waved  their  handkerchiefs,  in 
token  of  their  unanimous  concurrence.  A  committee  was 
now  appointed  to  wait  upon  Miss  Elsie  and  conduct  her  to 
her  seat  on  the  throne,  and  place  the  flowery  diadem  upon 
her  pure,  white  brow.  The  committee  consisted  of  three 
young  men,  who  were  to  select  three  of  the  fairer  sex  as 
assistants.  The  names  of  those  selected  for  this  duty  were 
Britton  Waldron,  John  Bull,  and  Richard  Underbill,  who, 
selecting  each  a  companion,  escorted  the  fair  Elsie  to  her 
exalted  seat. 

2* 


J 

18  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

Each  one  of  the  crowning  committee  was  to  take  hold 
upon  the  crown,  and,  dancing  three  times  around  the 
queen  before  placing  the  regal  coronet  on  her  polished 
brow,  to  sing  in  time  this  stanza :  — 

"  This  lovely  lass  around  we  pass, 
And  crown  her  Queen  of  May ; 
Nor  fairer  form  could  wreaths  adorn, 
This  merry-meeting  day." 

All  eyes  were  upon  Elsie,  who  occupied  the  throne  with 
such  grace  and  dignity,  that,  to  the  eyes  of  all,  she  looked 
"  every  inch  a  queen."  They  had  danced  but  once  around 
their  lovely  sovereign,  and  once  sung  their  crowning  stan- 
za, when  Elsie  suddenly  inquired,  in  a  low  but  distinct 
tone, — 

"  Who  can  that  lady  be  yonder,  riding  through  the 
grove  in  this  direction?" 

All  eyes  were  at  once  turned  towards  her,  and  as  they 
caught  sight  of  her  high-mettled  steed,  upon  which  she  sat 
with  unusual  grace,  their  attention  was  immediately  ar- 
rested, chained,  and  riveted  upon  their  unexpected  vis- 
itant. Her  horse,  as  she  rode  up  to  them,  looked  white, 
so  completely  frosted  was  he  with  his  own  perspiration  ; 
but,  on  a  closer  inspection,  proved  to  be  of  a  jet  black,  of 
the  deepest  polish.  At  some  little  distance  behind  her 
rode  two  men,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  a  noble-looking 
man,  about  the  age,  apparently,  of  fifty.  He  was  dressed 
L:  the  style  of  a  gentleman  of  that  day,  and  had  an  air  and 
bearing  slightly  aristocratic  and  unmistakably  English. 
He  was  seated  on  a  large,  powerful  horse,  of  a  dark  roan 
color,  and  in  his  rear  rode  a  footman.  He  was  apparelled 
in  the  quaint  style  not  uncommon  at  the  period  of  which 
we  write.  He  wore  velvet  tight  breeches,  with  a  short 
doublet,  and  a  cocked  hat,  in  the  ribbon  or  band  of  which 
was  stuck  his  tobacco  pipe. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  19 

His  hair  was  long,  and  braided  behind  in  a  cue,  and 
tied  with  eelskin,  to  which  was  attached  a  broad  ribbon 
that  reached  to  his  waist.  His  legs  were  cased  in  tight 
black  hose,  that  met  his  still  tighter  breeches  at  the  knee, 
and  passed  under  them,  where  the  hose  were  fastened  up 
and  the  breeches  fastened  down  by  a  long,  silver  knee 
buckle.  His  high-heeled  shoes  were  also  fastened  with 
silver  buckles  about  the  size  of  a  turtle's  back. 

The  young  lady  upon  the  black  bloodhorse  was  clad  in 
a  green  broadcloth  spencer,  with  tight  sleeves,  buttoned 
nearly  to  the  elbow ;  a  black  worsted  skirt,  and  neat  shoes, 
fastened  with  buckles :  a  jocky  riding  cap,  with  a  small 
plume  of  black,  completed  her  costume.  But  so  surpass- 
ing was  her  beauty  that  no  one  of  the  numerous  throng 
of  observers  noticed  her  dress  for  a  moment.  Her  hair 
was  as  black  as  the  horse  on  which  she  rode,  and  hung  in 
thick,  glossy  curls  over  her  neck  to  her  shoulders.  Her 
eyes,  also,  as  well  as  her  eyebrows  and  lashes,  were  of  the 
deepest  black.  Her  skin  had  not  the  dark,  yellow  tinge 
so  common  in  most  blackhaired  persons ;  neither  was  it 
of  a  repulsive,  chalky  whiteness  ;  but  was  perfectly  clear 
and  transparent,  and  betrayed,  by  its  sudden  paleness  or 
quickly-deepening  glow,  every  mutation  of  feeling. 

Beautiful  in  feature  and  buoyant  in  form,  she  looked  the 
very  personification  of  health  and  the  imbodiment  of  grace 
and  accomplishment.  As  she  rode  up  to  the  crowd,  she 
bowed  most  gracefully  and  smiled  ;  which  salutation  was 
instantly  returned  by  all  assembled.  Her  footman,  to- 
gether with  his  older  companion,  now  came  forward  and 
assisted  her  to  dismount ;  and  she  now  stood  before  them 
a  little  above  the  medium  height,  and  of  form  and  mould 
which  seemed  perfection  itself. 

As  she  alighted  from  her  horse,  Elsie  Tufton,  who,  as 
the  reader  will  remember,  at  the  time  the  stranger  ap- 
peared in  sight  was  in  the  midst  of  her  coronation,  now 


20  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

walked  deliberately  down  from  her  rude  throne,  and 
taking  up  the  garland,  which,  in  the  astonishment  and  ad- 
miration caused  by  the  lovely  stranger's  approach,  had 
dropped  from  the  hands  of  those  around  her,  sung  aloud, 
to  the  evident  surprise  of^her  whom  she  addressed,  — 

"  Nor  fairer  form  could  wreaths  adorn, 
This  merry-meeting  day." 

The  English  gentleman  —  for  such  evidently  he  was  — 
now  came  forward  and  very  earnestly  protested  against 
their  making  other  arrangements  than  those  previously  in 
progress,  in  which  they  seemed  so  happily  and  (he  would 
add,  as  an  Englishman)  so  appropriately  engaged. 

He  said  he  had  been  in  the  country  but  a  few  years,  and 
had,  until  the  last  autumn,  resided  at  Boston,  but  now 
lived  some  ten  miles  from  the  enchanting  spot  in  which 
he  now  found  himself. 

When  he  came  to  America,  he  remarked,  he  had  left  his 
two  only  daughters  to  finish  their  education  in  the  old 
country  ;  that  this  one,  but  a  week  previous,  had  landed 
at  Portsmouth  ;  and  that  they  had  been  informed,  much  to 
their  gratification,  of  the  "  merry-meeting  n  holiday  by  a 
friend,  whom  they  expected  to  have  met  here,  and  who 
was  to  have  given  him  a  suitable  introduction  to  those 
before  him  ;  but  as  he  did  not  recognize  him  among  those 
present,  he  would,  by  their  leave,  introduce  himself  and 
companion  as  Matthew  Langdell,  Esq.,  and  his  daughter 
Rozella. 

Elsie,  who  had  walked  down  from  her  sylvan  throne, 
now  sprang  forward  to  the  Englishman's  daughter,  and 
was  the  first  to  give  her  hand  and  a  cordial  welcome  to 
the  glorious  grove  of  "  Merry  Meeting."  Britton  Waldron 
followed  next ;  and  in  quick  succession  every  one  present 
had  grasped  the  hand  of  Squire  Langdell  and  welcomed 
himself  and  his  lovely  daughter  to  the  new  land  of  their 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  21 

adoption.  So  perfectly  fascinated  were  some  of  the  young 
men,  particularly  Waldron  and  Bull,  that  they  were  com- 
pletely disqualified  for  further  proceedings  in  the  way  of 
general  gallantry,  and,  by  their  absent-minded  air  and 
utter  indifference  to  any  save  the  fair  stranger,  laid  them- 
selves open  to  the  keen  remarks  of  their  former  favorites, 
who  rallied  them  most  unmercifully. 

"  Now,"  said  Elsie,  smiling,  "  I  abdicate  the  throne  in 
favor  and  in  honor  of  the  fair  Rozella  Langdell." 

At  this  manifestation  of  generosity  on  the  part  of  Elsie 
repeated  cheers  went  up  from  all  assembled. 

"  Noble  girl ! "  said  one.  "  Generous  creature ! "  said  an- 
other. 

"  Ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  Squire  Langdell,  "  I 
thank  you  all  for  the  kind  reception  of  myself  and  daugh- 
ter, but  particularly  you,  Miss  Tufton,  for  your  generous 
proposal  to  abdicate  in  her  favor  ;  but  it  would  be  in- 
fringing too  much  upon  the  rights  of  others,  and  presuming 
too  far  upon  your  own  generous  impulses,  besides  break- 
ing up  your  previously  concerted  order  of  arrangements, 
to  allow  any  change.  Therefore,  thanking  you  kindly  for 
the  honor  shown  Rozella,  I  must,  in  her  behalf,  decline  the 
high  post  of  honor  to  which  your  partiality  would  elevate 
her,  and  entreat  you  to  go  on  in  the  original  order  of  ex- 
ercises under  your  present  worthy  queen." 

"  And  I,"  said  Rozella, "  must  add  my  request  to  that  of 
my  dear  father.  I  will  assist  in  any  post  of  duty  your 
kind  partiality  may  assign  me,  which  shall  enable  me  to 
aid  in  the  coronation  of  the  lady  you  had  selected  for  your 
queen  ;  but  the  wreath  was  not  woven  for  my  brow,  and  I 
must  decline  it." 

"  The  garland,"  said  Elsie,  "  was  woven  for  the  brow  of 
the  fairest ;  therefore,  in  the  presence  of  Miss  Langdell,  I 
peremptorily  refuse  to  receive  or  wear  it." 

So  strong  was  the  demonstration  in  approbation  of  the 


22  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

sentiments  of  Elsie  that  Rozella  saw  it  was  of  no  avail  to 
refuse  further  ;  so,  with  her  father's  consent,  she  went  for- 
ward and  yielded  a  gracious  assent  to  their  solicitations. 
The  former  committee,  with  the  addition  of  Elsie,  now  sur- 
rounded Rozella,  and,  taking  her  by  both  hands,  led  her  in 
triumph  to  the  throne. 

"  Well,"  said  Rozella,  taking  off  her  cap  as  she  spoke, 
—  at  which  act  a  dozen  young  men  sprang  forward,  eager 
to  secure  the  honor  of  holding  it,  —  "  here,  if  it  is  not 
a  worthy  brow,  is  an  honest  one  ;  and  I  promise  you  it 
shall  never  disgrace  the  crown  you  are  pleased  to  place 
upon  it." 

Each  one  now  took  hold  upon  the  crown  and  danced 
around  the  throne  as  before,  singing,  — 

"  This  lovely  lass,"  &c,  — 

and  then  placed  the  flowery  crown  upon  Rozella's  brow, 
while  the  old  woods  rang  with  the  shouts  of  the  young 
and  old  in  such  wild  peals  of  joy  as  they  had  never  expe- 
rienced since  the  morning  stars  sang  at  their  creation. 
After  the  coronation  Rozella  arose,  and  in  a  clear,  mu- 
sical voice,  of  surpassing  and  peculiar  sweetness,  sung  as 
follows :  — 

How  glorious  the  scene,  and  how  joyful  the  day, 
In  the  old  woods  of  green,  in  the  young  month  of  May  ! 
So  in  hearts  that  are  spotless,  on  earth  though  they  stay, 
And  old  bosoms  hold  them,  'tis  May  —  always  May. 

Our  lives,  like  the  garland  we  weave  for  the  queen, 
With  evergreens  twining,  'mid  blossoms  are  seen  ; 
But  a  crown  that  ne'er  withers  let  all  wear  each  day  ; 
Then,  when  autumn  surrounds  us,  'tis  May —  always  May. 

A  thorn  unobserved  may  perchance  join  the  rose, 
And  a  hand  press  it  deep  in  the  brow  that  she  loves  ; 
But  the  brow  only  wounded,  the  sting  ne'er  can  stay ; 
Where  the  heart  feels  no  sorrow,  'tis  May  —  always  May. 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  23 

Though  strangers  we  meet,  and  our  friendship  is  new, 
The  joys  we  are  tasting  we'll  long  keep  in  view  ; 
Till  each  wreath  is  woven  for  the  great  crowning  day, 
'Mid  garlands  immortal,  'tis  May  —  always  May. 

After  the  singing  of  the  above,  the  effect  that  had  been 
produced  upon  the  company,  more  by  the  voice  and  man- 
ner of  the  fair  vocalist  than  by  the  words,  manifested 
itself  in  their  long  and  repeated  cheers. 

"  Now,"  said  Robert  Vaughan,  after  the  applause  had 
subsided,  "  I  propose,  as  ours  is  no  common  queen,  that  we 
give  her  an  additional  title  —  that  we  add  to  her  present 
designation  of  "  Queen  of  May "  that  of  "  Queen  of  the 
Forest."  For  she  has  put  new  life  and  animation  into 
these  green  old  woods,  so  as  to  cause  every  leaf  to  vibrate 
and  dance  with  joy  from  pond  to  bay  and  lake.  "  Why," 
said  he,  with  kindling  enthusiasm,  "  the  old  '  merry  meet- 
ing,' once  held  upon  this  sacred  ground,  was  no  more  to 
be  compared  with  this  than  a  district  school  meeting  in  one 
of  our  new  settlements  can  be  put  in  comparison  with 
commencement  at  Old  Cambridge." 

"  Agreed  ! "  shouted  all ;  and  Robert  Vaughan  was  se- 
lected to  present  her  the  additional  badge  of  honor.  He 
accordingly  broke  a  bough  from  a  young  spruce,  and  on 
bended  knee  presented  it  to  the  lovely  Forest  Queen,  who 
graciously  accepted  the  same  with  courteous  words  and 
acknowledging  smiles. 

At  the  close  of  the  coronation  ceremonies  the  ladies 
amused  themselves  as  best  suited  their  individual  tastes  — 
some  ranging  through  the  grove  gathering  what  flowers 
were  still  unplucked,  while  others  strolled  upon  the  shore 
of  the  pond  and  amused  themselves  by  watching  the  gam- 
bols of  its  finny  denizens,  or  by  casting  pebbles  into  its 
placid  bosom  to  observe  the  wavy  rings  which  would 
encircle  the  place  where  the  surface  was  disturbed. 

Of  the  other  sex  both  old  and  young  were  engaged  in 


24  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

the  more  athletic  exercises  of  climbing  the  May  pole  or  the 
surrounding  trees  ;  jumping,  or  trying  to  do  so,  in  the  tied- 
up  bag  ;  and  finally  in  the  laughable  feat  of  catching  and 
holding  the  soaped  pig,  which  a  jolly  old  farmer  had 
brought,  as  he  said,  to  remind  the  older  part  of  the  com- 
pany of  the  May-day  sports  of  Old  England.  This  last 
performance  had  for  its  delighted  spectators  the  fairer 
portion  of  the  company,  who,  while  they  pitied  the  pig, 
could  not  but  rejoice  at  the  failures  and  mishaps  of  his 
pursuers.  Peals  of  laughter  and  all  sorts  of  ironical  com- 
pliments and  cutting  jokes  and  jests  greeted  the  unfortu- 
nate wight  who  was  obliged  to  "  forego  his  hold,"  and  all 
were  convulsed  with  merriment  except,  perhaps,  the  poor 
pig,  who  probably  could  "  see  nothing  to  laugh  at,"  but 
who,  we  are  happy  to  say,  finally  left  the  ground  with 
his  ears  still  safely  attached,  though  perhaps  a  trifle 
elongated. 

After  these  sports  were  over,  and  as  the  company  were 
again  strolling  hither  and  thither  through  the  grove,  Elsie, 
who  had  been  standing  with  Rozella  on  the  throne,  cast 
her  eyes  about  her  to  ascertain  the  whereabouts  of  one 
Charles  Cutts,  who  had  been  very  attentive  to  her  for 
several  months,  and  who  had  exerted  himself  more  than 
any  other  one  to  advance  her  interest  and  secure  her  elec- 
tion to  the  throne.  She  finally  discovered  him  sitting  on 
a  little  hillock  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  against  which  his  back 
rested,  while  over  his  right  knee  was  thrown  his  left  leg, 
around  which  were  clasped  both  his  hands  in  a  grasp  as 
firm  as  a  vice.  He  held  in  his  mouth  one  end  of  a  long 
piece  of  bark  that  had  been  stripped  from  the  May  pole, 
and  which  he  was  chewing  violently. 

"Well,  Charles,"  said  Elsie,  approaching  him,  "we  are 
having  a  nice  time  for  our  first  May  day." 

"  Nice  time  ! "  said  Cutts,  rather  tartly  ;  "  the  nice  time 
was  entirely  spoiled  when  you  resigned  your  honors  and 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  25 

placed  that  young  Englishwoman  upon  the  throne  to 
which  I  had  exerted  myself  to  the  utmost  to  place  you." 

"  I  am  well  aware,"  replied  Elsie,  "  that  you  have  used 
all  your  influence  in  my  behalf,  and  I  assure  you  I  shall 
always  be  grateful  for  the  same.  The  kind  favor  of  your 
advocacy  will  never  be  forgotten.  But,  in  the  first  place, 
she  is  a  stranger,  and  can  but  consider  it  a  mark  of  re- 
spect on  our  part,  and  one,  too,  by  which  we  signify  our 
willingness  to  receive  her  into  our  warmest  friendship. 
Besides,  we  shall  be  gainers  by  the  act,  inasmuch  as  the 
influence  and  example  of  one  so  accomplished  and  well 
bred  as  she  evidently  is  will  do  much  in  smoothing  off 
our  sharp  corners  and  improving  our  awkward  habits." 

"  We  should  be  just  before  we  are  generous,"  replied 
Cutts  ;  "  and  as  to  your  improving  by  her  example,  you, 
Elsie,  exhibit  in  your  own  person  a  truer  model  of  the 
real  accomplishments  of  woman  as  she  should  be  than  that 
boarding-school  girl  yonder  or  all  the  other  ladies  of 
London  like  her,  with  their  affected  airs  and  false  ideas 
of  all  that  is  truly  womanly." 

"  Nonsense ! "  cried  Elsie  ;  "  you  mistake  the  young  lady 
entirely.  And  then  she  is  so  very  handsome  —  such  eyes, 
and  skin,  and  hair  ;  and  her  form,  too,  is  perfection  itself. 
Nothing  could  be  more  finely  modelled.  I  assure  you  I 
have  not  the  presumption  to  be  crowned  Queen  of  May  in 
the  presence  of  one  who  so  far  surpasses  me  in  every 
necessary  qualification  for  that  high  station." 

"That  Miss  Langdell  has  beauty,"  replied  Cutts,  "I  will 
not  deny  ;  still  it  is  not  of  the  style  I  admire." 

"What  style  do  you  prefer?"  interrupted  Elsie.  "I 
should  be  pleased  to  see  the  person  whose  beauty  you 
would  prefer  to  hers." 

"You  can,"  replied  Cutts,  "and  I  will  show  her  to  you," 
at  the  same  time  drawing  from  his  pocket  a  large  snuffbox, 
in  the  cover  of  which  was  set  a  mirror.  "  There,"  said 
3 


26  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

he,  holding  it  up  to  her,  "is  one  whose  modest  beauty 
I  much  prefer  to  that  of  the  dashing  young  creature 
yonder." 

"  Halloo !  "  shouted  Britton  Waldron,  suddenly  breaking 
in  upon  them  ;  "  making  love,  are  you,  Cutts  ?  I  think 
you  had  better  come  with  me,  and  give  Miss  Tufton  an 
opportunity  to  join  the  ladies  on  the  beach." 

By  the  time  he  had  closed  Elsie  was  on  her  way  thither, 
and  Waldron  and  Cutts  were  sauntering  towards  another 
part  of  the  grove. 

"  Cutts,"  said  Waldron,  as  they  started,  "  is  not  that 
young  stranger  the  most  perfect  specimen  of  womankind 
you  ever  put  eyes  upon  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Cutts,  abruptly  :  "  the  one  you  drove  from 
me  a  moment  since  is  far  more  perfect." 

"Indeed  !  "  said  Waldron.  "But  I  am  rejoiced  to  find 
that  you  think  so  ;  that  is  one  obstacle  less  than  I  feared 
I  should  have  to  contend  with." 

"How  so  ?"  asked  Cutts  ;  "  I  hope  you  are  not  in  love 
at  first  sight." 

"  In  love  or  out,"  said  Waldron,  "  I  can  scarcely  tell, 
and  hardly  whether  I  am  in  the  body  or  out.  But  one 
thing  I  do  know — that  I  never  before  saw  a  lady  I  so  much 
admired  or  who  came  up  to  my  ideal  of  what  a  woman 
should  be." 

They  were  now  interrupted  by  the  approach  of  Bull, 
who  came  swaggering  along  in  his  usual  rude  and  boister- 
ous manner,  and  intruded  his  unwelcome,  yet  as  he  thought 
important,  presence  into  their  company.  Like  his  father, 
Bull  was  a  man  of  violent  and  ungovernable  passions,  and 
so  thoroughly  coarse,  brutal,  and  headstrong  in  every 
way,  that  his  name  did  not  belie  his  surly  disposition, 
although  it  had  received  the  classical  nickname  of  "  Tau- 
rus ; "  so  that  he  went  by  the  expressive  name  of  "  Jack 
Taurus,"  by  which  title  he  will  be  henceforth  designated. 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  27 

"  Faith,"  said  Jack,  "  that  new  comer  in  the  green  jacket 
is  a  rare  one.  She  does  honor  to  the  crown  rather  than 
the  crown  to  her.  She  is  a  regular  diamond,"  continued 
Jack,  "and  just  fit  to  be  in  a  crown  herself.  Now,  as 
they  say  a  virtuous  woman  is  a  crown  to  her  husband,  I'll 
make  sure  of  the  gem  for  my  own  brow.  Ha  !  ha  !  You'll 
see,  now,  if  I  don't  obtain  it,  and  wear  it  grandly,  too." 

Waldron  now  saw  that  he  had  a  rival,  and  a  formidable 
one  ;  for  he  well  knew  that,  although  Bull's  suit  might  be 
met  by  the  lady  with  a  flat  and  final  refusal,  still  much 
was  to  be  feared  from  the  malicious  and  revengeful  spirit 
which  in  that  event  would  be  fully  and  fearfully  aroused. 
He  saw  the  necessity  of  keeping  his  own  passion  closely 
concealed;  and  accordingly,  affecting  to  laugh  heartily, 
with  a  semi-confidential  manner  advised  Jack  not  to  act 
with  his  usual  haste  and  impetuosity,  for,  as  the  lady  had 
been  educated  in  refined  and  fashionable  circles,  and  was 
accustomed  to  polite  and  delicate  attentions,  she  might  be 
alarmed  at  the  fierce  demonstrations  of  so  formidable- 
looking  an  animal  as  he,  Taurus,  was,  and  forever  refuse 
his  suit. 

In  the  mean  time  Richard  Underhill  had  commenced 
his  attentions  and  flatteries  to  the  young  ladies,  in  the 
course  of  which  so  completely  did  he  show  his  double 
facedness  that  from  that  day  forward  he  bore  the  name  of 
"  Dick  Janus,"  after  the  well-known  deity  of  ancient  Rome 
who  had  two  faces,  looking  in  opposite  directions. 

He  first  went  to  Elsie,  and,  addressing  her  as  the  right- 
ful sovereign,  intimated  that  she  ought  not  to  have  relin- 
quished her  claim  to  the  crown  in  favor  of  an  utter  stran- 
ger, and  that  she,  Elsie,  would  have  worn  the  crown  with 
as  much  grace  and  dignity  as  the  Forest  Queen  herself. 

He  next,  and  as  he  thought  unobservedly,  approached 
Rozella,  and  expressed  to  her  his  extreme  happiness  at  her 
opportune  arrival  in  their  midst,  inasmuch  as  until  that 


28  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

event  there  was  no  one  present  truly  and  really  qualified 
either  by  their  beauty  or  accomplishments  to  receive  the 
honors  of  the  day ;  but  that  she  wore  the  garland  with 
angelic  grace  and  true  queenly  dignity. 

Rozella,  as  Janus  first  addressed  her,  turned  and  listened 
to  his  harangue  in  a  quiet,  ladylike  manner ;  but  as  he 
closed,  she  coldly  and  haughtily  turned  her  back  upon  him, 
without  a  single  word,  and  left  him  to  draw  his  own  con- 
clusions as  to  the  effect  of  his  fulsome  flatteries. 

The  repast  with  which  they  had  come  provided  was 
now  served,  after  which  songs  were  sung  and  speeches 
made,  in  the  latter  of  which  Squire  Langdell  took  a  prom- 
inent part ;  and  then  the  company  bade  adieu  to  the 
enchanting  spot  and  sports  of  the  first  May  day  at  "  Merry 
Meeting"  Pond  or  within  the  borders  of  their  loved 
Laconia. 


CHAPTER   II. 


Exploration  of  the  White  Mountains  by  Neal.  —  Superstitions  o* 
the  Indians  concerning  the  same. 


As  the  celebration  of  May  day  at  "Merry  Meeting" 
Pond,  a  sketch  of  which  we  have  attempted  to  give  above, 
occurred  in  a  time  of  peace,  —  one  of  those  brief  intervals 
between  the  dreadful  Indian  and  Indian  and  French  wars 
that  raged  in  this  portion  of  New  Hampshire,  —  and  as 
some  of  the  young  men  above  mentioned  had  been  soldiers 
or  were  the  descendants  of  those  who  had  borne  arms 
and  fought  and  died  in  the  struggle  for  the  success  of  their 
adopted  country,  and  as  they  subsequently  became  re- 
nowned for  their  valor  and  heroism,  it  would  seem  essen- 
tial that  the  narrator  of  these  facts  should  go  into  a  more 
particular  account  of  their  genealogy  and  history. 

Matthew  Langdell,  Esq.,  has  already  given  a  sufficient 
introduction  of  himself  and  daughter.  But  he  omitted  on 
that  occasion  to  inform  the  company  that  his  wife,  the 
mother  of  the  fair  Rozella,  was  born  in  the  wilds  of  Amer- 
ica, at  a  place  called  Little  Harbor.  Her  father's  name 
was  Walter  Neal.  Gorges  and  Mason,  the  original  pro- 
prietors, had  divided  their  lands  ;  and  the  wild  region  east 
of  the  Piscataqua  was  relinquished  to  Gorges  and  took 
the  name  of  Maine,  while  the  tract  west  of  this  river  and 
extending  back  into  the  country  sixty  miles  was  confirmed 
to  Mason.  Mason  had  previously  resided  in  the  county 
3  *  (29) 


30  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

of  Hampshire,  in  England,  and  thus  gave  to  his  extensive 
grant  in  the  new  world  the  name  of  New  Hampshire. 
The  colonists  of  Mason's  grant  were  divided  into  distinct 
communities,  and  were  known  as  the  Upper  and  Lower 
Plantations.  The  first  superintendent  of  the  Lower  Plan- 
tation was  Captain  Walter  Neal,  of  Portsmouth. 

Captain  Neal  had  a  decided  passion  for  roving  and  for 
voyages  of  discovery ;  and  while  the  leading  men  of  the 
Plantation  were  busy  with  confederations  and  similar 
important  affairs,  he  took  his  departure  to  explore  the 
White  Mountains  ;  for  a  feature  so  prominent  in  the  sce- 
nery of  New  Hampshire  could  not  but  attract  his  observa- 
tion. The  interviews'  he  had  often  had  with  the  Indians 
and  the  information  obtained  from  them  had  also  excited 
his  curiosity,  for  they  had  always  held  these  awful  summits 
in  superstitious  veneration.  The  red  man  imagined  them 
peopled  with  invisible  beings.  In  their  cliffs  and  water- 
falls and  in  the  clouds  that  hung  upon  their  towering 
heads  he  saw  the  Great  Spirit  enthroned.  In  the  revels  of 
the  storm  and  in  the  thunders  that  rattled  from  cliff  to 
cliff  and  echoed  in  deafening  answers  from  gulf  to  gulf 
he  heard  the  voice  of  his  anger.  He  believed  also  that 
he  shines  in  the  stars,  that  he  smiles  upon  the  lakes,  that 
he  breathes  in  the  secret  recesses  of  grotto  and  cave,  and 
that  each  sunbeam  that  warms  and  every  flower  that  blos- 
soms is  radiant  with  his  love  ;  that  he  frowns  in  the  win- 
try blast  and  refreshes  in  the  summer  zephyrs,  and  that  the 
first  blush  of  morning  and  the  last  lingering  ray  of  twi- 
light are  but  his  earliest  and  his  latest  smiles.  Hence 
they  had  ever  supposed  that  any  intrusion  into  their  sacred 
precincts  would  be  resented  by  their  invisible  inhabitants 
and  call  down  speedy  and  merited  punishment  upon  the 
head  of  the  sacrilegious  invader. 

But  the  same  mysteries  that  prevented  the  red  man  from 
exploring  the  mountains  served  as  an  attractive  and  irre- 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  31 

sistible  charm  to  the  mind  of  the  white  man,  and  a  still 
stronger  inducement  may  have  been  the  gold  they  sup- 
posed to  be  hidden  in  their  stony  bosoms.  So  deeply  im- 
pressed was  the  imagination  of  Captain  Neal,  that  he,  with 
two  companions  only,  set  out  on  foot  through  the  dense 
wilderness,  and  was  the  first  adventurer  who  had  dared  to 
explore  their  secret  chambers  and  gloomy  recesses.  They 
supposed  that  every  rock  of  a  yellow  hue  contained  gold  ; 
and  some  glistening  minerals  which  they  obtained  led 
them  to  bestow  on  these  grand  old  mountains  the  name  of 
the  "  Crystal  Hills."  But  Neal  soon  returned  home  with 
a  saddened  and  disappointed  heart ;  for  the  "  fine  gold  " 
proved  to  be  but  mica,  and  the  gems  and  diamonds  were 
metamorphosed  into  garnet  and  crystallized  quartz. 

This  expedition  over,  another,  of  a  different  character, 
succeeded.  The  whole  seaboard  was  alarmed  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  pirate,  one  Dixy  Bull,  with  a  crew  of  fifteen 
others,  who,  in  search  of  gold,  had  taken  several  boats  and 
had  rifled  the  Fort  of  Pemaquid.  Neal,  in  conjunction 
with  others  from  Boston,  equipped  and  manned  four  pin- 
naces, shallops,  and  barks,  and  proceeded  to  Pemaquid. 
But  before  he  had  landed  a  furious  storm  set  in  ;  and  Bull 
with  his  men,  rushing  on  board  in  hot  haste,  weighed 
anchor  and  put  out  of  port,  leaving,  in  their  hurry,  a 
woman  who  had  accompanied  him.  So  furious  was  the 
storm  that  Neal  either  could  not  or  dare  not  follow  ;  so 
that  Bull  escaped,  and  ran  the  length  of  his  line,  the  end 
of  which  he  found  at  last  in  England,  where  justice  was 
satisfied  and  he  received  his  deserts. 

Soon  after  this  Neal  returned  to  England,  with  his  wife 
and  a  young  daughter  twelve  years  of  age,  whose  tripping 
feet  had  gambolled  as  innocently  as  waltzed  the  breathing 
blossoms  amid  which  she  strolled,  while  her  dimpled 
cheeks  glowed  with  a  modest  hue  which  seemed  but  flit- 
ting reflections  of  the  ripening  fruit  of  her  own  native 


32  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

"  Strawberry  Bank."  She  subsequently  became  the  wife 
of  Matthew  Langdell  and  mother  of  the  charming  Rozella. 

John  Bull,  alias  "  Jack  Taurus,"  was  nearly  as  old  as 
Squire  Langdell,  but  was  possessed  of  one  of  those  iron 
constitutions  which  seem  never  to  grow  old ;  so  that,  prid- 
ing himself  on  his  vigor,  he  did  not  choose  as  he  advanced 
in  years  to  relax  in  the  least  his  assiduities  to  the  fair  sex 
but  was  ever  ready  to  lay  siege  to  any  virgin  heart 
whether  young  or  old,  making  small  allowance  for  dis 
parity  of  years.  But  he  was  never  satisfied  with  his  con 
quest  for  any  great  length  of  time,  but  like  his  prototype 
the  Taurian  Jupiter,  celebrated  for  his  transformations  in 
mythological  fable,  he  was  continually  roving  in  quest  of 
"  fresh  fields  and  pastures  new."  Rozella  had  quickly  dis- 
covered his  true  character,  and  held  him  in  complete  con- 
tempt and  detestation.  His  mother  was  the  woman  the 
pirate  Dixy  Bull  had  left  behind  in  his  flight  from  Peina- 
quid,  and  he  was  born  a  few  months  after  Bull's  hasty 
departure  from  that  port. 

His  mother,  not  having  the  natural  instinct  even  of 
animal  attachment  to  her  offspring,  carried  Jack  into  that 
part  of  the  country  inhabited  by  the  Ossipee  Indians,  and 
left  him  in  a  gap  of  the  mountains  near  one  of  the  Indian 
wigwams,  where  he  was  soon  discovered  by  the  squaws, 
who  fed  and  housed  him  in  the  winter,  while  in  the  sum- 
mer season  he  subsisted  as  best  he  could.  Thus  Jack  grew 
up,  as  he  in  afterlife  declared,  among  the  wild  beasts  and 
reptiles  of  the  mountains,  who  were  not  only  his  compan- 
ions, but  not  unfrequently  his  food.  Yet  Jack  had  im- 
proved wonderfully  after  being  brought  out  into  civilized 
life  by  some  hunters,  who  discovered  him  while  engaged 
in  trapping  beaver.  His  mind  was  naturally  strong  ;  he 
easily  learned  whatever  was  laid  before  him  ;  and  so 
retentive  was  his  memory  that  he  could  repeat  the  whole 
of  a  discourse,  after  once  hearing  it,  nearly  verbatim,  and 
always  retained  it. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  33 

But  one  thing  lie  could  never  learn  —  and  that  was, 
to  govern  his  passions  ;  although,  had  he  not  become  enam- 
oured of  Rozella,  —  whose  charms  and  accomplishments  so 
bewitched  him  as  to  completely  addle  his  brain,  —  he 
might,  perhaps,  have  ultimately  become  a  respectable  and 
influential  member  of  society. 

Britton  Waldron  was  the  son  of  Major  Waldron,  who 
was  a  brave  and  kind  officer  in  the  early  Indian  wars  ; 
and  whenever  a  treaty  of  peace  was  made,  which  was  fre- 
quently declared  but  seldom  long  observed,  the  Indians 
regarded  him  as  their  father  and  friend. 

But,  as  he  was  an  officer,  he  felt  himself  bound  to  obey 
the  governor's  command ;  and  therefore,  contrary  to  his 
own  judgment,  lent  himself  to  a  stratagem  which  cost  him 
his  life.  The  government  sent  on  two  companies  to  make 
prisoners  of  the  Indians  in  his  vicinity,  and  who  were  now 
friendly  and  peaceably  disposed.  Waldron  dissuaded 
them  from  making  an  open  attack,  but  proposed  to  the 
Indians  that  they  should  have  a  training  and  sham  fight 
after  the  English  manner,  to  which  they  assented.  His 
own  men  and  the  two  government  companies  formed  one 
party,  and  the  Indians  another. 

Causing  the  Indians  to  fire  the  first  volley,  the  word  of 
command  was  given,  and  the  Indians  surrounded  and  taken 
prisoners  before  they  had  time  to  become  aware  of  the 
intended  treachery.  Two  hundred  Indians  were  taken, 
eight  or  ten  of  whom,  on  proof  being  produced  of  their 
having  murdered  Englishmen,  were  hanged,  and  the  re- 
mainder sold  into  slavery  in  foreign  parts. 

His  subsequent  history  will  be  related  in  the  recital  of 
the  events  of  the  contest  which  took  place  soon  after  the 
May-day  celebration  at  Merry  Meeting  Pond,  and  in  which 
most  of  those  present  at  that  event  were  engaged. 

Britton  Waldron,  like  his  father,  had  seen  hard  fighting 
in  the  contests  with  the  Indians  from  his  early  boyhood, 


34  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

and  was  never  known  to  have  turned  his  back  upon  a 
foe. 

Charles  Cutts  was  a  worthy,  brave  young  man,  as  his 
afterlife  will  show.  He  was  the  son  of  John  Cutts,  of 
Portsmouth,  an  eminent  merchant,  who  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  the  ctfuncil  by  which  New  Hampshire  was  gov- 
erned after  the  separation  of  her  union  with  Massachu- 
setts, which  had  existed  for  thirty-eight  years. 

Robert  Yaughan  was  the  son  of  William  Vaughan,  who 
was  also  a  member  of  the  first  council  of  New  Hampshire. 

Elsie  Tufton  was  the  descendant  of  Robert  Tufton,  who 
took  the  name  of  Mason  in  compliance  with  the  condition- 
al clause  of  Mason's  will,  and  which  it  was  necessary  for 
him  to  assume  in  order  to  come  into  possession  of  his  vast 
estate. 

Richard  Underhill,  .alias  Dick  Janus,  was  the  son  of 
the  twofaced  John  Underhill,  who  was  living  and  fawning 
upon  the  government  of  the  colony,  while  at  heart  he  was 
an  infamous  traitor,  and  was  secretly  engaged  in  writing 
letters  to  the  government  of  England  against  the  colo- 
nies. 


CHAPTER    III. 


Dolly  Plot's  Island  and  her  Schemes.  —  Betrothal  of   Charles 
Cutts  and  Elsie  Tufton. 


Having  now  given  a  sketch  of  the  principal  characters 
in  the  scenes  and  sorrows  of  the  wars,  and  which  we  hope 
has  not  been  tedious,  we  are  now  on  open  ground  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  events  themselves. 

From  the  day  when  Rozella  Langdell  made  her  advent 
in  the  smiling  grove  of  Laconia  upon  her  black  blood- 
horse,  which  had  been  presented  her  before  leaving  Eng- 
land by  her  uncle,  and  named  Flying  Cloud,  she  was  the 
admired  of  all  observers.  True,  at  that  time  she  was  very 
young,  and,  like  an  early  bud,  was  just  bursting  her  rough- 
er lamina  of  spring  covering,  and  ready  to  bloom  and 
blossom  into  womanhood  ;  yet  so  radiant  was  her  face,  so 
finely  modelled  her  form,  so  elastic  her  step,  and  her  dispo- 
sition and  manner  so  gentle  and  winning,  that  each  of  the 
young  men  of  all  the  country  round,  unwilling  to  resign 
to  another,  without  a  struggle,  a  prize  so  rare  and  price- 
less, frequented  her  father's  house  as  the  very  Canaan  of 
their  desire  ;  and  of  these,  many  a  Moses  climbed  to  the 
Pisgah's  height  of  his  towering  hopes,  and  gazed  with 
longing  eyes  over  the  swelling  Jordan  of  another's  love 
upon  the  promised  hand ;  and  although  they  did  not  "  die 
without  the  sight,"  one  only  possessed  her  confidence  ;  and 
he  was  the  fortunate  and  thrice  happy  Britton  Waldron, 

(35) 


36  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

From  the  day  of  his  betrothraent,  all  that  was  ever  pos- 
sessed by  Jack  Taurus  of  kindness  and  regard  towards 
Waldron  was  changed  into  the  bitterest  enmity,  hatred, 
and  determination  of  revenge  ;  and  many  were  the  plans 
and  plots  he  laid  to  destroy  him.  So  infatuated  was  the 
rough  and  uncouth  Taurus  with  the  charms  of  the  fair  Ro- 
zella  that  he  was  completely  blind  to  the  disgust  and  det- 
estation which  she  not  only  felt  but  manifested  towards 
him,  even  in  his  own  presence.  Every  cold,  passing  glance 
she  gave  him,  each  avoidance  of  his  company  and  sudden 
withdrawal  from  any  group  which  he  joined,  was  inter- 
preted by  Taurus  to  read,  in  plain  English,  "  She  loves 
me,  but  is  too  modest  to  acknowledge  her  passion." 

Such  being  his  impression,  he  imagined  that,  could  he 
only  devise  some  scheme  for  the  removal  or  destruction 
of  Waldron,  every  obstacle  in  the  way  of  his  success 
would  be  removed  ;  for  he  considered  that  he  (Taurus) 
stood  at  least  second  in  the  favor  and  affections  of  the 
Forest  Queen.  He  therefore,  as  had  been  his  wont  on 
other  occasions,  had  recourse  to  a  notorious  fortune  teller 
in  the  vicinity,  one  Dolly  Plot,  to  assist  him  in  devising 
ways  and  means  for  Waldron's  overthrow. 

Dolly  Plot  lived  on  an  acute  angle  in  a  fork  of  Cocheco 
River,  which  was  so  nearly  surrounded  by  water  as  to 
have  obtained  the  name  of  Dolly's  Island.  She  was  of 
middle  age,  and  had  once  been  considered  quite  handsome  ; 
and  when  she  shook  the  blue  devils  out  of  herself,  and  ap- 
peared in  society  in  her  best  style,  some  remnants  of  her 
former  beauty  were  still  visible.  She  had  been  well  edu- 
cated, and  in  her  better  days,  in  England,  had  moved  in 
fashionable  society. 

After  she  had  concocted  a  scheme  for  the  disgrace  and 
downfall  of  Waldron,  she  one  day  intruded  her  unwelcome 
presence  into  the  house  of  Mr.  Tufton,  on  pretence  of 
wishing  to  obtain  pecuniary  aid  ;  but  was  commanded  by 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  37 

Elsie  to  leave  the  house,  as  she  was  wholly  unworthy  of  aid 
or  sympathy.  As  she  was  about  leaving,  she  sneeringly 
retorted  to  Elsie,  "  that  she  had  better  not  assume  such 
lofty  airs  in  her  presence  ;  for  she  had  once  been  the  admi- 
ration of  a  refined  and  fashionable  circle,  and  was  called, 
not  only  an  idol,  but  an  angel." 

"  And  you  are  all  of  that  now,"  replied  Elsie,  "  but  an 
idol  at  whose  shrine  the  totally  depraved  alone  worship  ; 
and  although  you  may  still  be  angel,  you  are  an  angel  of 
darkness,  whose  powers  of  attraction  extend  only  to  foul 
and  fallen  spirits  like  yourself." 

After  this  repulse  Dolly  feigned  herself  sick,  and  sent 
for  Waldron  to  visit  her,  intimating  that,  in  case  she  did 
not  recover,  she  would  bequeath  him  her  little  island  ;  but, 
receiving  no  reply  to  this  artful  message,  she  changed  her 
tone,  and  pretended  that  she  wished  to  consult  him  on  im- 
portant business.  Had  he  complied  with  her  request, 
Taurus  was  to  disgrace  him  by  immediately  reporting  the 
fact  of  his  visit  to  Rozella,  to  which  he  could  add  such 
other  lying  embellishments  as  his  depraved  imagination 
might  suggest,  could  he  only  have  that  fact  upon  which  to 
base  his  atrocious  falsehoods. 

But  Waldron,  though  he  did  not  know  of  this  intended 
scheme,  was  kept  from  falling  into  the  snare  so  artfully 
contrived  more  by  his  thoughts  and  attention  being  ab- 
sorbed by  Rozella  than  by  suspicion  or  fear  of  Dolly  Plot ; 
and  inasmuch  as  he  was  thereby  kept  from  the  contami- 
nating atmosphere  of  the  iniquitous  Dolly  Plot,  and  also 
shielded  from  the  pestiferous  breath  of  the  slanderer,  Tau« 
rus,  he  was,  on  the  whole,  equally  fortunate. 

Thus  the  affair  went  on  for  months  —  love  and  happi- 
ness at  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell,  and  hatred  and  re- 
venge at  the  hut  on  Dolly's  Island. 

Thirteen  years  had  nearly  elapsed  since  the" seizure  and 
selling  into  slavery  of  the  two  hundred  Indians  by  Major 
4 


38  LEGENDS  OP  LACON1A. 

Waldron.  Some  of  the  "strange  Indians,"  as  they  were 
termed,  had  escaped  from  servitude  and  returned.  These 
were  now  lingering  about  the  vicinity,  and  were  often 
seen  in  close  consultation  with  Taurus  and  Janus  in  the 
adjacent  woods,  while  at  night  they  were  observed  to  ac- 
company them  to  the  island  and  hut  of  Dolly  Plot. 

It  has  often  been  remarked  that  one  misfortune  is  sure 
to  be  followed  immediately  by  another,  and  that  one  en- 
emy possesses  the  power  to  rouse  into  life  many  more.  At 
the  precise  time  of  the  return  of  the  Indians  who  had  been 
transported,  another  enemy,  of  great  power  and  influence 
over  the  Indians  in  his  vicinity,  was  aroused  in  the  north- 
eastern section  of  the  territory. 

The  lands  from  Penobscot  to  Nova  Scotia  had  been 
ceded  to  the  French  by  the  treaty  of  Breda,  in  exchange 
for  the  Island  of  St.  Christopher.  On  these  lands  the 
Baron  De  St.  Castine  resided.  He  was  on  terms  of  the 
greatest  intimacy  with  the  Indians,  and  had  several  of 
their  women  for  his  wives,  among  whom  was  the  daughter 
of  the  great  sachem,  Monokawando.  The  lands  granted 
by  the  crown  of  England  to  the  Duke  of  York  (at  this 
time  King  James  II.)  interfered  with  St.  Castine's  plan- 
tation, as-  the  duke  claimed  to  the  River  St.  Croix  for 
his  boundary.  Castine  had  built  a  fort  and  stationed  a 
force  at  Pemaquid  to  protect  his  property.  A  ship  landed 
some  wine  at  Piscataqua,  supposing  it  to  be  within  the 
French  territory,  which  was  seized  by  the  duke's  agent. 

A  quarrel  ensued  and  a  new  line  run,  by  which  Castine's 
house  and  fort  were  embraced  in  the  English  territory. 
The  English  then  plundered  Castine's  house  and  fort,  and 
robbed  him  of  his  arms  and  goods. 

This  last  action  provoked  Castine  to  excite  the  Indians 
to  a  new  war.  To  add  still  more  fuel  to  the  flame  so  nearly 
ready  to  burst  out,  some  English  sailors,  in  passing  up  the 
Saco,  hdd  observed  the  squaw  of  the  sachem  Squando  in 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  39 

a  canoe,  with  her  infant  child  in  her  lap ;  and  having 
heard  that  Indian  children  could  swim  as  naturally  as 
young  swans,  in  order  to  test  the  matter,  overset  the 
canoe.  The  child  sank  at  once  ;  but  the  mother,  with  her 
bosom  alive  to  its  danger,  instantly  plunging  into  the 
water,  succeeded  in  bringing  it  up  alive,  although  it 
lived  but  a  short  time.  So  enraged  was  Squando  at  this 
base  act  of  the  English  that  he  also  employed  all  his  in- 
fluence to  excite  the  Indians  and  arouse  them  to  avenge 
his  wrongs.    He  fully  succeeded,  and  the  storm  soon  burst. 

Castine  and  Squando  had  but  an  easy  task  to  perform 
in  arousing  Mogg  Hegon,  for  his  bosom  was  already  thirst- 
ing for  English  blood,  to  atone  for  the  dark  deeds  of  rob- 
bery and  plunder  his  tribe  and  priest  had  suffered  at  the 
hands  of  Colonel  Westbrook.  Mogg  Hegon  was  the 
chief  sachem  of  Norridgewock,.  and  Bomazeen  was  an  in- 
ferior chief  of  the  same  tribe,  called  Canibas,  or  Kenne- 
becs,  that  were  at  this  place. 

Colonel  Westbrook  headed  a  company  of  English  soldiers 
to  Norridgewock  to  destroy  the  Indians,  together  with  a 
French  priest  named  Ralle,  or  Rasles,  and  who  was  living 
with  the  Indians  at  that  place,  where  he  had  also  built  a 
church  ;  but  when  they  arrived  there  the  village  was  de- 
serted and  not  a  soul  to  be  seen.  But  they  found  and 
brought  away  a  singular  box,  known  by  the  name  of  Fa- 
ther Halle's  strong  box,  in  which  he  kept  all  his  private 
papers,  and  carried  with  him  upon  his  back  as  he  trav- 
ersed the  forests  from  Norridgewock  to  Canada  as  a  mis- 
sionary or  evangelist.  By  the  letters  contained  in  this 
box,  it  was  fully  proved  that  the  priest  was  secretly 
scheming  for  the  destruction  of  the  English  with  the 
French  governor  of  Canada,  Count  Frontenac,  whose 
letters  the  box  also  contained. 

But  while  the  murderous  storm  of  war  had  been  gath- 
ering in  darker  gloom  and  seemed  ready  to  burst  upon 


40  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

the  land  from  all  the  tribes  from  Canada  to  the  ocean,  the 
kindlier  and  better  feelings  of  our  nature  had  also  been 
ripening  and  growing  to  maturity  in  the  settlements  of 
Laconia.  The  mutual  attachment  which,  at  their  first 
interview  at  Merry  Meeting  grove,  Waldron  and  Rozella 
had  felt  for  each  other,  had  grown  with  their  growth  and 
strengthened  with  their  strength  ;  and  apparently  the  time 
was  not  far  distant  when  the  hand  of  the  Forest  Queen 
and  that  of  him  who  had  assisted  in  making  her  such 
would  be  indissolubly  united.  And  at  last  it  was  surmised, 
then  whispered  confidentially,  and  at  last  publicly  pro- 
claimed on  every  hand,  that  the  day  was  fixed  when  Brit- 
ton  Waldron  and  Rozella  Langdell  should  be  forever 
joined  in  the  silken  ties  of  wedlock. 

Elsie  Tufton  and  Charles  Cutts  had  been  equally  fortu- 
nate in  the  improvement  of  their  happy  meetings  and  in 
finding  favor  in  each  other's  sight.  Cutts  had  confessed 
his  passion,  and  asked  and  obtained  her  consent  to  confer 
upon  him  the  greatest  earthly  boon  in  the  gift  of  Heaven 
by  becoming  his  wife.  The  next  annual  Thanksgiving, 
which  was  but  a  few  months  later,  was  the  day  upon 
which,  by  the  free  consent  and  approval  of  all  interested, 
they  were  to  effect  that  mutual  union  so  "  devoutly  to  be 
wished." 

But  at  this  time  the  intelligence  came  from  all  quarters 
from  the  borders  of  the  settlement  that  some  of  the  cattle 
had  been  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  others  had  had  their 
tongues  cut  out  and  been  otherwise  maimed  and  maltreat- 
ed. The  next  day  news  was  brought  in  that  a  house  had 
been  burned  and  three  persons  found  dead  and  scalped  at 
the  doorway,  and  two  of  the  family  were  missing.  A 
little  reconnoitring  was  made  in  the  vicinity  of  Dolly's 
Island  ;  and  Taurus  and  Janus,  with  a  few  strange  Indians, 
were  discovered.  Taurus  and  two  of  the  Indians  had 
each  a  reeking  scalp  attached  to  their  girdles,  while  the 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  41 

Others  had  beef  and  tongues  from  the  cattle  that  had  been 
killed.  A  report  having  been  made  to  Squire  Langdell, 
a  little  council  of  war  was  held  by  the  neighbors  ;  and  it 
was  resolved  that,  for  their  greater  safety,  they  would 
proceed  down  the  River  Cocheco  to  the  blockhouses  where 
the  settlers  had  safely  garrisoned  in  former  Indian  wars. 

They  accordingly  took  their  departure,  some  down  the 
river  in  boats,  some  on  horseback,  and  some  on  foot. 
4* 


CHAPTER    IV. 


Departure  of  the  Settlers  to  the  Garrisons  on  *he  Cocheco. — 
rozella  returns  for  her  bundle.  —  she  is  waylaid  by  taurus 
and  Janus.  —  Surprise  and  Massacre  op  the  Garrisons,  and  Death 
of  the  handsome  cross. 


There  were  five  blockhouses  on  the  banks  of  the  Co- 
checo, one  of  which  belonged  to  the  Waldrons.  Rozella 
and  some  of  the  company  were  to  proceed,  accompanied 
by  Waldron,  to  his  father's  garrison,  and  the  others  were 
to  be  distributed  to  Otis's,  Heard's,  and  Coffin's  garrison. 
They  had  gone  nearly  a  mile  when  Rozella  discovered  that 
she  had  left  behind  a  little  bundle  of  clothing  which  she 
had  hastily  tied  up  in  a  handkerchief ;  and  in  spite  of  the 
protests  of  her  companions,  she  resolved  to  return  for  it ; 
so,  assuring  them  she  would  directly  overtake  them,  she 
gave  a  free  rein  to  Flying  Cloud,  and  bounded  away.  The 
company  went  slowly  forward  and  finally  reached  the  gar- 
rison, but  Rozella  had  not  made  her  appearance.  They 
would  have  returned  immediately  for  her  but  for  the  as- 
surance of  Major  Waldron  that,  for  the  present  at  least, 
there  was  no  danger  to  be  apprehended  from  the  Indians  ; 
and,  moreover,  Britton,  who  in  order  to  apprise  other  set- 
tlers of  the  danger  had  taken  a  circuitous  route,  had  not 
yet  come  in  ;  therefore  they  desisted  from  their  intent, 
though  not  without  some  anxiety  on  her  account. 

The  sun  had  set,  and  the  evening  mists  began  to  settle 

(42) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  43 

upon  the  distant  mountains  and  over  the  high  forest  trees, 
when  Britton  came  in,  and  anxiously  did  he  ask  for  the 
whereabouts  of  Rozella.  Finding  she  had  not  yet  arrived, 
he,  with  quivering  lip  and  a  cheek  blanched  to  a  ghastly 
whiteness,  instantly  rallied  his  men  and  hurried  back  in 
quest  of  her.  They  had  proceeded  but  half  a  mile  when, 
to  their  great  joy,  they  saw  her  dash  from  the  forest  upon 
Flying  Cloud,  who  leaped  a  fallen  tree  and  struck  into  the 
main  road  before  them.  The  horse  was  completely  cov- 
ered, with  blood  and  foam,  and  fell  dead  the  moment  he 
reached  the  road.  Rozella  had  nothing  upon  her  head  ; 
and  the  bundle  for  which  she  had  returned  was  wanting, 
as  well  as  her  cap.  She  had  returned,  as  she  informed 
them,  and  procured  her  bundle,  and  was  hastily  pursuing 
her  way  back  to  her  friends  when  three  of  the  strange 
Indians  appeared  in  the  road  directly  before  her.  She 
wheeled  her  horse  to  escape  their  grasp,  when,  to  her 
utter  astonishment,  Taurus  and  Janus,  with  three  Indians, 
were  now  before  her.  Taurus  then  spoke,  and  demanded 
that  she  stop  and  yield  herself  a  prisoner,  and  no  harm 
should  befall  her.  Her  only  reply  was  the  giving  of  Fly- 
ing Cloud  one  sharp  cut  with  her  riding  whip,  at  which 
he  dashed  furiously  forward,  prostrating  Taurus  —  who, 
now  feeling  sure  of  his  prize,  had  already  stretched  out 
his  hand  to  grasp  her  horse's  bridle  —  completely  in  the 
dust,  together  with  one  of  the  Indians,  whose  heads  Flying 
Cloud,  safely  bearing  his  heroic  rider,  had  cleared  at  one 
leap.  But  the  brave  steed  was  mortally  wounded,  having 
received  a  deep  and  fatal  thrust  from  the  long  knife  of 
one  of  the  Indians  and  a  ball  through  the  flank  from  the 
gun  of  the  cowardly  Janus.  Nevertheless,  he  bore  her 
bravely  and  swiftly  on,  although  her  course  was  entirely 
at  random,  until  she  came  suddenly  upon  a  young  and  ath- 
letic Indian,  whom  at  a  glance  she  recognized  as  Wenane, 
the  son  of  Chocorua,  who  was  subsequently  chief  of  the 


44  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

Pequawketts.  He  had  often  received  various  acts  of 
kindness  at  her  father's  house.  As  she  was  wholly  at  loss 
to  know  in  what  direction  to  proceed,  and,  moreover,  as 
her  noble  steed  showed  signs  of  giving  out,  she  ventured 
to  halt  and  ask  his  assistance  and  protection.  "The  young 
Forest  Queen,"  replied  the  Indian,  "  shall  have  both.  When 
Wenane  turns  his  face  and  his  heart  from  the  palefaced 
squaw  whose  white  hand  gave  him  food,  and  made  his  bed 
by  the  fire,  and  smoothed  the  pillow  till  her  light  hand 
made  it  soft  for  his  weary  head,  then  shall  the  river  turn 
back  in  its  course  and  the  high  mountains  be  as  the  sandy 
plain."  He  then  with  a  part  of  his  blanket  plugged  up  as 
well  as  he  was  able  the  bleeding  side  of  the  horse,  and 
accompanied  Rozella  to  a  footpath  in  the  forest,  which  he 
said  would  lead  her  directly  to  the  above-named  clearing. 
Thanking  him  gratefully  for  his  timely  assistance,  she 
again  gave  Flying  Cloud  the  rein,  and,  urging  him  to  his 
utmost  speed,  was  just  able  to  reach  the  spot  where  Wal- 
dron  and  his  men  first  discovered  her. 

The  company  generally  were  exceedingly  alarmed  at 
these  hostile  demonstrations,  except  the  venerable  Major 
Waldron.  He  was  now  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  and 
prided  himself  highly  on  his  knowledge  of  Indian  habits 
and  character.  He  now  assured  them  that  he  could  fore- 
tell to  a  certainty  when  an  Indian  war  was  about  to  break 
out,  and  that  there  was  no  danger  or  necessity  for  alarm, 
at  least  for  the  present.  And  so  completely  did  his  confi- 
dent assurances  allay  their  apprehensions  and  quiet  their 
fears  that  the  younger  portions  of  the  settlers  at  the 
various  garrisons  had  resolved  upon  a  boat  ride,  the  next 
day,  down  the  Cocheco. 

"Now,"  said  Britton  Waldron  to  Rozella,  "lay  aside  all 
your  fears,  and  we  will  be  thankful  for  our  deliverance 
in  the  past  and  happy  for  the  brilliant  prospects  of  the 
future." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  45 

"But  I  fear,"  replied  llozella,  "that  our -present  happi- 
ness will  be  but  of  short  duration." 

"  0,"  cried  the  lighthearted  Elsie,  "I  think  it  is  best  to 
be  happy  while  we  may,  for  trouble  will  come  speedily 
enough  without  our  assistance  ;  and  as  we  are  to  have  a 
line  boat  ride  to-morrow,  we  must  all  be  gay  and  cheerful. 
Come,  Charles,"  said  she,  turning  to  Cutts,  who  wore  his 
hair  so  long  as  to  fall  to  his  shoulders,  "  here  is  some  nice 
pink  paper,  which  was  left  from  that  of  which  we  made 
the  cartridges  ;  so  I  will  roll  up  your  long  locks,  on  which 
you  seem  to  pride  yourself  so  much,  for  I  would  like  to 
see  you  appear  becomingly  in  the  morning,  so  that  you 
may  not  frighten  the  fish  out  of  the  water  on  our  excur- 
sion down  the  river." 

41  Perhaps,"  said  Cutts,  "  it  might  be  advisable,  for  it 
may  serve  to  keep  my  locks  out  of  the  hands  of  the  red- 
skins, and  I  protest  "against  having  the  scalp  slid  off  my 
crown  by  the  bloodthirsty  wolves." 

After  this  operation  was  completed  and  other  pleasant 
remarks  bandied  among  the  company  the  party  separated  ; 
Britton  Waldron  and  Rozella  proceeded  to  the  garrison 
of  Major  Waldron,  and  Cutts  to  that  of  Otis,  while  Elsie 
remained  at  Heard's,  where  the  above  conversation  had 
occurred.  When  Britton  and  Rozella  arrived  at  the  house 
of  the  major,  they  found  that  a  squaw  and  the  chief  Ma- 
sandowit  —  both,  as  they  supposed,  friendly  Indians  —  had 
put  up  there  for  the  night.  Major  Waldron  had  provided 
them  a  supper ;  and  while  sitting  at  the  table  Masandowit 
with  his  accustomed  familiarity  inquired,  "  Brother  Wal- 
dron, what  would  you  do  if  the  strange  Indians  should 
come  ?  "  The  major  carelessly  replied  that  he  could  as- 
semble a  hundred  men  by  merely  raising  his  finger.  As 
this  conversation  was  carried  on  in  a  light  and  jocular 
tone,  no  importance  was  attached  to  it,  and  in  unsuspect- 
ing confidence  the  families  of  all  the  garrisons  retired 
to  rest. 


46  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

When  all  was  quiet,  and  the  thick  gloom  of  night  had 
settled  down  like  a  pall  as  if  to  cover  the  dreadful  deed 
of  impending  slaughter,  the  chief  and  the  squaw  arose  and 
opened  the  doors  and  the  gates  leading  to  the  house,  when 
the  strange  Indians,  whom  the  major  had  deceived  and 
taken  and  sold  into  bondage  thirteen  years  previously, 
rushed  in. 

They  broke  down  the  door  of  the  major's  apartment,  an 
inner  room,  but  were  repulsed  by  the  major,  who,  although 
borne  down  by  the  weight  of  eighty  years,  leaped  from  his 
bed,  and,  sword  in  hand,  drove  them  through  several 
doors.  Britton  Waldron  and  the  major's  son-in-law, 
Abraham  Lee,  sprang  from  their  beds,  and  found  the  old 
man  engaged  in  deadly  combat  with  the  Indians,  two  of 
whom  were  rolling  in  their  own  blood  at  his  feet.  Britton 
for  a  moment  kept  them  at  bay  with  the  tomahawk  he  had 
snatched  from  the  belt  of  one  of  those  who  had  fallen  ; 
and  the  major  turned  for  his  other  arms,  when  a  blow 
from  a  hatchet  fell  upon  his  forehead,  turning  a  large 
patch  of  his  scalp  over  his  eyes,  and  his  gray  hairs  trailed 
mournfully  over  his  wrinkled  features.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment Britton,  in  a  dreadful  hand-to-hand  encounter,  had 
buried  his  tomahawk  in  the  face  of  his  grim  foe  ;  but 
at  the  next  he  also  lay  stunned  and  apparently  lifeless 
from  the  numerous  blows  of  another.  Lee  rushed  to  the 
awful  death  struggle  only  to  have  his  head  laid  open 
nearly  to  his  shoulders,  and  he,  too,  sank  in  death  with 
the  others. 

Rozella  was  seized  by  several  Indians  at  once,  and  tied 
to  the  handle  of  the  door  with  strong  cords,  as  was  also 
Mrs.  Lee.  They  now  dragged  Major  Waldron  —  still 
alive,  though  unable  to  offer  any  resistance  —  to  the  hall, 
and  seating  him  in  his  own  arm  chair,  which  they  raised 
upon  a  table,  the  transported  but  now  returned  Indians 
walked  deliberately  up  in  succession  and  drew  their  knives 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  47 

quite  to  the  bone  across  his  forehead,  face,  and  breast ; 
each  one,  as  he  did  so,  tauntingly  crying  out,  "  I  cross  out 
my  account." 

They  then  cut  off  his  nose  and  ears,  which  they  forced 
into  his  mouth ;  and  when  he  had  become  faint  from  the 
loss  of  blood  and  was  falling  from  the  table,  they  held  his 
own  sword  under  him,  which  pierced  his  heart  and  put  an 
end  to  his  misery.  This  fiendish  deed  of  slaughter  they 
compelled  Rozella  and  Major  Waldron's  own  daughter, 
Mrs.  Lee,  to  witness,  until,  overcome  by  the  horrid  spec- 
tacle, they  fainted  and  sunk  senseless  upon  the  floor. 
When  they  revived  and  sensibility  had  returned,  the  In- 
dians were  ransacking  the  cellar  and  other  parts  of  the 
house  in  search  of  food. 

They  then  looked  among  the  dead  bodies  for  that  of 
Britton  Waldron,  whom  they  supposed  to  have  been 
killed ;  but  it  was  not  to  be  found.  When  the  Indians 
returned,  so  enraged  were  they  at  the  escape  of  Waldron 
that,  with  uplifted  tomahawks,  they  rushed  to  the  women 
to  despatch  them  at  once,  so  that  no  more  should  escape. 
A  powerful  blow  was  aimed  at  and  about  falling  upon  the 
head  of  Rozella,  when  an  agile  form,  with  the  rapidity  of 
lightning,  flew  in  through  the  outer  door  and  received  the 
blow  from  the  haft  of  the  weapon  into  his  outstretched 
hand.  As  quick  as  thought  he  wrested  it  from  the  assail- 
ant's hand,  and  with  a  voice  that  stilled  the  infernal 
whoops,  which  had  not  ceased  since  the  savages  had 
gained  an  entrance,  cried  out,  — 

"Enough!  By  your  own  acknowledgment  you  have 
crossed  out  your  accounts  and  balanced  the  bloody  books  ; 
and  whoever  takes  the  life  of  the  young  Forest  Queen,  or 
sheds  but  a  single  drop  of  her  blood,  the  same  moment  his 
life  shall  pay  the  forfeit  at  my  hands." 

As  the  baffled  assailants  retreated  from  the  apartment, 
her  brave  rescuer  —  whom  Rozella  did  not  recognize  in  his 


48  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

war  habiliments  —  turned,  and,  raising  from  his  brow  the 
band  of  eagles'  plumes,  Wenane  stood  before  her. 

At  the  same  time  these  murderous  deeds  were  being  per- 
petrated, another  band  of  Indian  warriors,  led  by  Villieu, 
upon  the  concerted  scheme  of  Castine,  Monokawando, 
Mogg  Hegon,  and  Squando,  had  divided  into  small  squads, 
and  were  scouring  the  country  and  attacking  the  settlers 
at  Portsmouth  and  Dover. 

One  band,  led  by  Bomazeen,  had  passed  up  the  Coche- 
co  and  attacked  the  forts  of  Otis  and  the  Coffins  at  the 
moment  of  the  attack  upon  Major  Waldron's.  The  friend- 
ly squaws  who  had  entered  the  garrisons  of  Otis  and  the 
two  Coffins  arose  in  the  night,  opened  the  doors,  and  ad- 
mitted the  Indians  to  the  dreadful  work  of  slaughter. 
There  were  more  men  in  these  garrisons  than  in  Wal 
dron's  ;  and  the  attack,  if  not  more  fiendish  and  horrible, 
was  certainly  more  frightful  and  terrific.  The  savage 
whoops  and  the  deafening  yells  that  howled  up  from 
around  the  devoted  blockhouses  must  have  amazed  and 
astonished  the  savages  themselves,  and  incited  them  to 
more  fiendish  acts  of  cruelty  and  revenge. 

The  men  within  the  garrisons  discharged  their  guns  as 
the  Indians  entered,  and,  having  killed  a  number  of  the 
foremost,  rushed  hand  to  hand  to  the  deadly  struggle. 
Charles  Cutts,  the  bravest  and  most  daring  of  the  Eng- 
lish, had  mown  a  swath  nearly  through  the  ranks  of  these 
e^+anic  tares,  when  the  murderous  hatchet  fell  upon  one 
side  of  his  head,  cutting  the  skin  and  ear  to  the  bone,  and 
burying  itself  in  his  shoulder.  He  caught  the  bloody 
weapon  by  the  handle,  drew  it  out,  and  bounding,  like  the" 
panther  on  his  prey,  upon  the  perpetrator,  buried  the 
hatchet,  red  with  his  own  blood,  deep  in  the  redskin's 
brain.  At  the  same  instant  a  powerful  blow  nearly  sev- 
ered his  arm  from  his  bodyj  it  hanging  only  by  the  skin  ; 
but  he  again  caught  the  cruel  implement  with  the  other 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  49 

hand,  and  was  about  to  fell  another  foe,  when  he  wap 
knocked  down  and  his  scalp  stripped  off  while  he  still  lived. 

Many  others  had  fought  as  bravely  as  Cutts,  and  each 
had  slain  his  quota  before  falling  himself.  Of  the  Indians, 
the  most  diabolical  was  that  villanous  Bloody  Bones, 
old  Bomazeen,  who,  in  the  sickening  strife,  snatched  a 
smiling  nursling  from  its  mother's  breast  and  dashed  out 
its  brains  by  her  own  head,  who^ dripping  with  the  gush- 
ing gore  of  her  innocent  offspring,  fell  with  her  mutilated 
babe  to  swell  the  ghastly  heaps  of  the  slain. 

In  many  spots  the  blood  was  ankle  deep  ;  and  beside 
the  dead  the  wounded  and  dying  lay  piled  together,  writh- 
ing in  their  own  curdling  blood. 

But  Heard's  garrison  had  been  saved  by  the  barking  of 
a  dog.  Its  inmates  had  rallied,  and,  discovering  the  plot 
by  finding  the  door  unfastened,  ejected  the  squaw,  who  had 
been  kindly  allowed  to  sleep  by  the  fire,  sans  ceremonie. 

There  were  but  a  few  men  in  this  garrison,  and,  to  de- 
ceive their  foes,  the  women  put  on  hats,  and,  taking  a 
musket,  ran  to  the  windows,  where  their  heads  only  were 
visible,  and  discharged  their  guns  in  rapid  succession. 
Thus  the  Indians  supposed  Heard's  garrison  to  be  more 
strongly  manned  than  either  of  the  others,  and  after  the 
first  attack  avoided  it.  For  this  reason  the  squad  to 
whom  the  attack  and  slaughter  of  this  garrison  was  as- 
signed had  passed  over  to  assist  in  the  bloody  onslaught 
on  the  other  houses,  soon  to  return,  however,  with  other 
spirits  sevenfold  more  devilish  than  themselves. 

When  they  returned  with  their  captives  and  the  scalps 
they  had  taken  it  was  nearly  sunrise,  and  the  morning 
light  but  too  plainly  shone  upon  the  ghastly  corpses  in  the 
deserted  garrisons. 

As  they  approached,  Elsie  and  the  other  women,  in  their 
assumed  manly  character,  again  flew  to  the  window  and 
discharged  their  muskets.    Although  they  had  heard  the 


50  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

awful  whoops  and  terrific  outcries  from  the  other  houses, 
they  did  not  know  but  their  friends  had  been  as  fortunate 
as  themselves. 

As  Elsie  flew  to  the  window  at  the  last  discharge,  the 
first  person  she  recognized  was  Rozella  ;  but  so  dejected 
were  her  looks  and  so  woful  her  appearance,  as,  tied  with 
cords,  she  stood  bound  and  helpless,  that  Elsie,  overcome 
by  the  painful  sight,  involuntarily  dropped  her  musket  and 
sank  with  it  upon  the  floor.  She  had  nearly  swooned, 
when  the  piercing  thought  flashed  across  her  mind  to  as- 
certain if  Charles,  her  affianced  husband,  was  among  the 
captives.  She  sprang  again  to  the  window  ;  but  he  was 
not  to  be  seen.  As  she  still  gazed  for  him,  a  tall,  straight, 
and  exceedingly  handsome  crossbreed,  who  was  passing  in 
front  of  the  others,  attracted  her  notice.  As  he  turned 
proudly  upon  his  heel  and  brought  his  left  side  to  her 
view,  so  that  she  could  clearly  discern  the  scalps  at  his 
girdle,  she  gave  a  shriek  so  shrill  and  piercing  as  to  si- 
lence for  the  moment  the  din  of  the  howling  pack  without. 
All  the  pangs  that  blood  and  carnage  could  produce  seized 
her  breaking  heart ;  for  at  his  girdle,  and  reeking  in  his 
own  precious  blood,  hung  the  scalp  of  the  only  being  she 
had  ever  truly  loved  —  the  worthy  and  heroic  Charles 
Cutts.  His  hair  still  rolled  in  the  pink  papers  her  own 
hands  had  prepared,  and  precisely  as  she  had  left  it  the 
previous  evening. 

Notwithstanding  the  Indians  were  already  cutting 
through  the  door  of  the  garrison,  she  flew  to  it  with  the 
wildness  of  desperation,  unbolted  and  threw  it  wide  open. 
So  like  a  spirit  from  the  clouds  did  she  appear  to  the  awe- 
struck Indians,  that,  as  she  opened  the  door,  they  involun- 
tarily drew  back.  She  passed  out  by  them  with  a  deter- 
mined air  and  a  resolution  strong  as  death  itself.  So 
quickly  did  she  draw  the  long  war  knife  from  the  belt  of 
an  Indian,  as  she  passed  him,  that  he  knew  not  the  loss  of 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  51 

his  weapon  until  he  saw  it  plunged  with  the  rapidity  of 
lightning  to  the  very  hilt  in  the  heart  of  the  handsome 
halfbreed,  who  fell  dead  at  her  feet.  She  instantly  tore 
the  scalp  of  Cutts  from  his  girdle,  and,  pressing  it  wildly 
yet  tenderly  to  her  bosom,  flew  back  into  the  garrison 
and  bolted  the  door  again  before  one  of  the  astonished 
group  of  savages  could  move  his  charmed  feet  from  the 
ground. 

"  A  daring  spirit,"  said  Yillieu,  as  he  drew  back  with 
a  shudder  from  the  house,  "  and  one  with  whom  we  must 
not  trifle." 

"  Yes,"  said  Bomazeen,  "  that  was  the  same  shriek  I 
heard  in  the  clouds  when  the  fiery  Tarrateens  murdered 
the  great  sovereign  Bashaba  and  his  people  at  Pemaquid 
and  carried  off  his  women." 

"  Ugh ! "  said  Squando,  "  those  eyes  were  the  same  balls 
of  fire  I  saw  dancing  over  the  bog  at  Lamprey  River  after 
we  had  killed  the  brave  Colonel  Winthrop  Hilton  and 
buried  him  and  the  other  palefaced  dogs  in  the  slimy 
pool." 

"I  think,"  said  Masandowit,  "  that  we  had  better 
divide  our  plunder  and  captives  and  leave  the  place 
at  once." 

The  others  assented,  and  they  moved  from  the  vicinity 
of  the  garrison  to  cast  lots  for  the  possession  of  the  pris- 
oners. They  were  all  anxious  to  possess  Rozella,  but 
yielded  their  claims  in  favor  of  that  of  the  chief  second 
in  authority  at  Norridgewock,  for  the  following  reasons. 
The  handsome  halfbreed  slain  by  the  avenging  hand  of 
Elsie  was  Weseme,  the  son  of  the  celebrated  Ralle  by  an 
Indian  woman  who  had  served  as  his  laundress.  His  beau- 
ty was  the  topic  of  discourse  to  all  observers.  His  hair 
was  black  like  an  Indian's,  but  of  a  soft  and  fine  texture, 
and  of  a  tendency  to  curl.  Unlike  Indians,  he  wore  a  black 


52  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

and  thinly-set  beard.  His  cap  was  of  scarlet-dyed  fur  ; 
and  upon  his  hunting  frock  he  wore  four  silver  bells,  which 
designated  him  as  the  leader  in  their  excursions  through 
the  forests. 

He  also  carried  on  his  person  a  written  roll  of  the  names 
of  those  over  whom  he  had  command,  and  had  also  a  de- 
votional book. 

Therefore  it  was,  said  Bomazeen,  because  the  son  of 
good  Father  Ralle  and  the  handsomest  young  man  in  all 
the  land  had  been  slain  that  he  would  have  the  handsom- 
est white  squaw  to  carry  him,  to  appease  his  anger  and 
soothe  his  sorrow.  And  besides,  the  great  chief,  Mogg 
Hegon,  wished  for  another  wife,  and  was  very  anxious  to 
add  a  palefaced  squaw  to  his  already  large  list  of  darker 
beauties  ;  and  so  had  left  the  selection  to  his  judgment. 
Rozella  was  accordingly  assigned  to  Bomazeen,  and  start- 
ed with  several  other  captives  for  the  Canibas  tribe  at 
Norridgewock,  while  the  remainder  were  distributed 
among  the  various  tribes  at  the  north-east. 

Britton  Waldron,  on  regaining  his  senses,  found  himself 
so  weak  and  powerless  as  to  almost  prevent  him  from 
keeping  his  feet ;  but,  summoning  up  all  his  strength,  he 
hastened  from  the  apartment  so  lately  the  scene  of  his 
bloody  encounter.  As  he  approached  Rozella,  lying  pale, 
senseless,  and,  as  he  supposed,  dead,  at  the  door  to  which 
she  had  been  tied,  a  deep,  convulsive  shudder  of  awful 
agony  shook  every  fibre  of  his  wounded  frame  ;.and,  paus- 
ing to  ascertain  whether  any  trace  of  life  yet  remained, 
his  eye  fell  upon  the  plain  gold  ring  he  had  given  her  but 
a  few  months  previous  as  a  token  of  his  affection.  He 
had  barely  time  to  draw  it  from  her  finger  when  the 
hurried  tread  of  approaching  footsteps  warned  him  to 
seek  safety  by  instant  flight.  Casting  one  hasty  but  fond 
glance  at  the  dear  form  of  her  whom  he  never  expected 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  53 

to  behold  again  in  this  world,  he  rushed  out.  As  he  did 
so  he  saw  the  friendly  Indian,  Wenane,  approaching  the 
house,  who,  by  a  quick  gesture,  indicated  to  him  the  path 
he  must  take  ;  and  he  had  run  but  a  few  rods  in  the  direc- 
tion pointed  out  when  he  saw  a  number  of  men  by  the 
fence  in  front  of  him,  and  his  old  friend  Squire  Langdell 
standing  upon  it,  looking  in  the  direction  of  the  garrison. 
Gladly  did  they  meet ;  but  sorrowfully  did  the  squire 
listen  to  his  sad  though  incoherent  recital  of  the  bloody 
drama  in  which  he  had  borne  so  prominent  a  part.  The 
squire  and  his  companions  had  escaped  from  the  other 
garrisons  in  the  deadly  fight,  and,  supposing  all  to  have 
been  killed  or  taken  captive  in  the  other  garrison,  had 
paused  here  for  a  moment  to  ascertain  if  they  could  dis- 
cover any  one  of  their  companions  who  possibly  might 
yet  survive. 

They  then  pursued  their  way  to  the  adjacent  settlements 
to  rally  a  company  for  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  and  re- 
covery of  the  captives.  The  next  day  that  cool  and 
determined  spirit,  Robert  Vaughan,  returned  from  Little 
Harbor,  whither  he  had  been  on  business  at  the  time  of 
this  horrid  tragedy,  and,  collecting  a  few  men,  buried  the 
dead  and  attended  to  the  wants  of  the  few  who  had  been 
left  as  such  ;  which  being  accomplished,  the  cry  was  rung 
through  the  surrounding  country,  "  To  arms,  for  pursuit 
and  revenge !  "  They  now  ascertained  that  the  settlements 
in  nearly  every  town  in  the  colonies  had  been  attacked  at 
nearly  the  same  time  with  the  garrisons  at  Cocheco  ;  there- 
fore they  applied  to  Massachusetts  for  assistance.  But 
they  found  that  colony  overwhelmed  with  witchcraft,  sup- 
posed satanic  possessions,  and  infernal  manifestations  of 
all  sorts  ;  and  moreover,  beset  with  feuds,  contentions 
and  dissensions  concerning  old  and  new  charters,  Armini- 
anism,  Antinomianism,  and  numerous  other  matters  of  less 
5* 


54  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

importance,  to  such  an  extent  that  they  were  utterly 
unable  to  render  them  any  assistance.  They  therefore 
raised  a  force  from  the  minute  men  of  the  colonies  adjoin- 
ing their  own,  and,  marching  to  the  east,  joined  Captain 
Harmon  and  Major  Moulton's  expedition,  which  had  been 
formed  in  that  quarter  for  the  Indian  war. 


CHAPTER   V. 


Elsie  Tufton's  Insanity.  —  Rozella  at  Norridgewock  and  thi 
Catholic  Chapel.  —  Little  Owega  Xnd  the  Profile  Leaf.  —  Ro- 
zella's  Incarceration  in  a  subterranean  Cell. 


After  Elsie  Tufton  had  entered  the  garrison  with  the 
scalp  of  Charles  Cutts,  still  reeking  in  the  warm  blood  of 
one  she  loved  better  than  the  crimson  drops  that  coursed 
through  her  own  veins,  most  pitiful  indeed  were  her 
mournful  wailings  and  distressed  moans.  She  would  look 
at  the  scalp  for  an  instant,  and  then,  with  all  the  fond  and 
endearing  epithets  that  affection  and  tenderness  could  sug- 
gest, again  press  it  to  her  heart  and  lips.  Her  face  was 
of  a  ghastly  paleness,  and  her  eyes  dry  and  tearless,  and 
with  a  fixed  stare,  and  frightfully  wild  and  glassy. 

"  Look,  Charles  1 "  cried  she,  as  she  unrolled  the  pink 
papers  from  the  beautifully  curled  locks ;  and  an  unnat- 
ural, startling  laugh  broke  from  her  lips  and  rang  through 
the  garrison.  "  Here  are  fish  in  your  hair  ;  a  fine  net  this 
to  catch  fish !  Ha !  ha !  I  told  you  that  you  would  frighten 
them  out  of  the  water ;  and  here  they  are,  in  your  hair. 
Here,  take  this  tress  I  tear  from  my  own  dishevelled  locks  ; 
it  will  serve  to'mend  your  net.  Charles  is  not  dead  ;  but 
what  means  this?  Ha !  ha !  your  head  is  full  of  them  ;  and 
bleeding,  too !  See  that  drop !  pink  fish  and  red  blood. 
O,  the  drops  are  golden  ones ;  and  I'll  bathe  my  burning 
brow  in  them.     'Tis  rcdhot ;  and  the  drops  hiss  and  fly 

(55) 


56  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

away  in  vapor  as  I  apply  them.  0,  my  brain  is  on  fire, 
and  my  eyes  seem  bursting  from  their  sockets.  I  shall  go 
mad  —  ah,  no,  not  mad !  I'd  laugh  like  the  gay  troop  at 
Merry  Meeting  to  see  the  heir  to  the  crown  of  next  May 
day  go  mad!  Ha!  ha!  Charles,  you'll  put  the  flowery 
crown  on  my  head  as  gracefully  as  I  did  on  'Zella's.  I 
wish  'twere  there  now,  for  a  hoop,  to  keep  it  from  bursting 
asunder.  But  I  will  put  on  this  golden-haired  fish  net, 
and  Charles  will  think  he  has  caught  a  mermaid.  Ha !  ha! 
that  will  be  playing  a  good  joke,  to  tease  a  lady's  sweet- 
heart so.  Hush !  they  art  coming !  Ah,  no  ;  'tis  but  the 
breeze  sighing  its  low  tales  through  the  moaning  pines.  I 
wish  it  would  cool  my  own  brow  and  quench  its  pent-up 
fires.  Look,  look,  Charles !  I  see  a  maiden  fair  ;  she  has 
caught  the  knife ;  and  see !  she  strikes  the  handsome  cross 
where  French  and  Indian  blood  have  mingled,  and  Nature 
exhausts  her  art  to  rear  a  splendid  structure  around  a 
heart  so  vile  as  to  better  befit  some  foul  and  slimy  cavern 
where  loathsome  vipers  feed.  And  see  —  0,  in  mercy  see 
— what  wild,  fantastic  pictures  are  dimly  visible  in  the  dark 
recesses  of  his  treacherous  heart !  Now  they  stand  out 
plainer.  Back,  back,  ye  fiends !  Approach  me  not.  Look ! 
there  is  one  with  eyelid  dropped  and  glued  upon  his 
scarred  cheek.  He's  Janus-faced;  and,  horror!  another, 
who  by  those  glaring  eyes,  green  with  hate  and  glaring 
with  hellish  malice,  must  be  Taurus.  And  now  the  chief 
figure  appears  in  the  background,  and  seems  to  smile  with 
the  fiendish  grin  of  satanic  exultation  upon  her  devilish 
coadjutors.  Can  it  be  ?  Yes,  'tis  that  infernal  hag,  Dolly 
Plot.  0  Heavens !  I  see  it  all  ;  'tis  plain  as  noonday  sun 
at  summer  solstice.  This  cowardly  trio  set  the  war  dogs 
on  to  hunt  and  capture  the  fair  Queen  of  the  Forest,  and 
murder  Waldron  at  her  very  feet,  when  to  the  battle's 
reeking  front  they  ne'er  a  step  dare  take.  Enough, 
enough ! "    And  as  she  pronounced  the  closing  word  of 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  57 

this  mournful  rhapsody  poor  Elsie  Tufton  fell  senseless  to 
the  floor ;  a  raging  fever  seized  her  burning  brain ; 
and,  with  occasional  lucid  intervals,  she  vacillated  for 
weeks,  like  the  swinging  pendulum,  'twixt  life  and  death. 
Upon  this  painful  bed  of  torture  we  must  for  the  present 
leave  her,  promising  our  readers  to  pursue  her  history 
at  another  time  more  to  their  satisfaction  than  we  could 
now  do. 

In  an  Indian  village  called  Norridgewock,  upon  a  river 
of  the  same  name,  the  latter  of  which  is  now  called  Kenne- 
bec, stood,  at  the  period  of  which  we  are  now  writing,  a 
little  Catholic  church,  the  plan  and  architectural  style  of 
which  were  modelled  after  the  French  churches  of  the  same 
religious  order.  Its  doors  and  windows  were  in  the  old 
Gothic  style ;  and  its  little  tower,  from  which  rose  a  light 
spire,  surmounted  by  a  snow-white  cross,  contained  a  bell 
which  had  been  transported  from  Canada,  through  the 
wild  and  dreary  wilderness,  upon  the  backs  of  Indians. 
The  pictures,  images,  and  general  arrangement  of  the 
interior  were  nearly  the  same  as  prevail  at  the  present 
day,  and  by  which  the  Catholic  churches  are  adorned. 

A  dark,  gloomy  cell,  in  the  basement,  was  hung  around 
with  paintings  representing  the  tortures  of  the  damned ; 
and  grotesque  images  of  frightful  and  repulsive  forms  of 
fiends,  devils,  fiery  serpents,  every  where  met  the  eye, 
interspersed  with  human  skulls  and  mouldy  crossbones ; 
while  upon  a  platform  at  one  end  of  the  apartment  were 
thumbscrews,  iron  collars,  and  various  other  instruments 
of  torture. 

In  front  of  the  church  was  erected  another  cross,  sunk 
deep  into  the  earth,  to  enable  it  to  resist  the  violence  of 
the  winds.  .Over  the  door  of  the  church  were  ringheaded 
staples,  firmly  driven  into  the  solid  woodwork,  through 
which  passed  a  flagstaff,  with  a  banner  attached,  on  which 


58  LEGENDS   OF    LACONIA. 

was  painted  the  cross,  together  with  the  bow  and  arrow 
of  the  Indian,  as  a  symbolic  declaration  that  the  murders 
of  the  Indians  and  the  religion  of  the  priest  had  struck 
hands  and  made  common  cause.  And  at  morning  mass 
and  evening  prayer  the  "  banner  with  this  strange  device  n 
had  a  charm  far  more  potent  than  the  stroke  of  the  bell 
to  call  the  Indian  warrior  from  the  yet  palpitating  heart 
of  his  slain  victim  without  to  the  cunning  heart  to  which 
themselves  were  made  victims  within. 

It  was  a  bland  and  golden  Sabbath  morning  in  autumn, 
and  the  variegated  forest,  as  it  seemed,  in  order  to  appear 
to  the  best  advantage  and  exhibit  itself  in  keeping  with 
the  picturesque  costume  of  the  red  worshippers,  —  who 
were  standing  listlessly  about  the  church  or  sauntering  idly 
among  the  wigwams  of  the  lodge,  —  had  put  on  its  "  Sun- 
day suit  "  and  arrayed  itself  in  "goodly  apparel." 

Just  after  the  early  morning  mass  was  finished,  at  an 
unusual  hour  and  for  an  unusual  occasion,  the  bell  upon 
the  chapel  suddenly  struck  twice.  The  Indians  at  once 
assumed  a  solemn  demeanor,  bent  the  knee,  and  at  the 
first  stroke  of  the  bell  made  a  motion  across,  and  at  the 
second  stroke  a  motion  down,  the  breast,  so  as  to  leave 
upon  it  an  imaginary  cross  ;  after  which  the  solemnity 
vanished  from  their  faces  and  their  features  resumed  their 
usual  expression. 

Almost  the  very  moment  the  bell  struck,  a  young  woman 
of  superior  air  and  high  bearing  was  seen  to  emerge  from 
the  lodge  of  Bomazeen,  and,  with  himself  on  one  side  and 
another  Indian  warrior  on  the  other,  proceed  towards  the 
church.  Before  and  behind  her,  as  they  moved  along, 
walked  two  fancifully  decorated  squaws,  who  carried  each 
a  lighted  candle  ;  while  Bomazeen  and  his  companion 
bore  each  a  miniature  cross.  The  young  lady  had  exceed- 
ingly black  and  brilliant  eyes ;  but  her  features  were  of 
marble  paleness,  and  much  agitated.     Her  hair,  also,  was 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  59 

of  the  deepest  black,  and  hung  low  on  her  polished  neck 
in  natural  curls,  though  undressed  and  disarranged.  As 
she  passed  along,  a  beautifully  variegated  leaf  of  red, 
green,  and  yellow,  the  effect  of  the  autumn  frost,  fell  from 
a  stately  old  maple  by  their  path  upon  her  bosom.  As 
she  took  it  in  her  hand  her  eye  caught  a  fanciful  figure 
upon  the  leaf  which  bore  a  close  resemblance  to  the  human 
form,  particularly  as  to  the  features  ;  and,  struck  by  the 
likeness,  she  retained  it.  As  they  approached  the  church 
she  noticed  a  brighteyed,  and,  as  she  thought,  extremely 
beautiful,  little  Indian  girl,  of  some  ten  or  twelve  summers, 
standing  upon  the  steps  before  the  door,  regarding  her 
with  great  earnestness.  With  a  sweet  though  sad  smile 
she  presented  the  curious  leaf  to 4 the  little  squaw,  who 
seized  it  eagerly,  and,  throwing  her  arms  around  her,  clung 
to  her  closely,  and  piteously  entreated  her  grim  escort,  not 
to  harm  the  White  Pigeon. 

On  entering  the  church,  the  tall  candles  were  burning, 
and  the  incense  rising  in  wavy  rings  into  the  air,  and  the 
priest  kneeling,  crossing  himself,  and  muttering  before  the 
altar.  So  absorbed  did  he  seem  in  his  devotions  that 
apparently  he  did  not  notice  her  entrance.  He  wore 
upon  his  head  a  small  bowl-shaped  cap,  and  was  dressed 
in  a  long  gown,  with  silver  lacings  and  trimmings  for  the 
border,  which  trailed  upon  the  ground. 

He  wore  the  long  badge,  or  pontifical  cross,  on  his  back, 
passing  over  the  shoulders.  He  finally  finished  his  solemn 
mummeries,  and  turned  himself  slowly  around  towards 
her,  as  though  he  supposed  his  august  presence  would  im- 
press the  young  woman  with  such  pious  awe  that  she 
would  immediately  prostrate  herself  before  him.  But 
to  his  evident  disappointment  he  saw  that  she  stood  as 
erect  as  himself,  and  regarded  him  with  the  most  per- 
fect composure. 


60  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

*  Your  name  and  residence,  young  woman,"  demanded 
the  priest,  sternly. 

"  Rozella  Langdell,  of  Laconia,  sir,"  replied  Rozella  ;  for 
she  indeed  it  was. 

"  Sir ! "  repeated  the  priest,  in  a  severe  tone  of  voice. 
"  That  title  was  once  prefixed  to  the  office  of  a  priest,  as 
well  as  to  knights  and  baronets  ;  but  latterly  the  English 
have,  by  its  vulgar  and  familiar  use,  made  the  term  obso- 
lete as  applied  to  the  holy  order  ;  and  j^ou  will,  therefore, 
for  the  future,  address  your  priest  by  the  more  appropri- 
ate and  endearing  appellations  of  '  most  holy  father/ 
1  his  holy  reverence/  or, '  the  good  Father  Ralle.' " 

"  Truly,"  replied  Rozella,  "  I  but  partially  understand 
you,  so  imperfect  is  yc>ur  pronunciation  and  accent." 

"  Such  may  be  the  case,"  said  the  priest,  speaking  more 
slowly  ;  "  for  my  knowledge  of  the  English  tongue  is  but 
limited.  I  was  born  and  educated  in  France  ;  and  al- 
though I  have  been  an  evangelist  in  the  wilds  of  America 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  I  have  had  but  little  inter- 
course with  any  people  save  the  French  and  Indians.  I 
returned  but  yesterday  from  Canada  ;  therefore  my  daugh- 
ter will  not  think  me  too  inquisitive  when  I  inquire  how 
long  she  has  been  with  my  people." 

"  Three  weeks,"  answered  Rozella. 

"  And  have  my  children  provided  suitably  for  your  com- 
fort and  convenience  ?  "  inquired  the  priest. 

"  For  neither,"  replied  she. 

"Have  you  not  fared  as  comfortably  as  themselves?" 
pursued  the  priest. 

"  I  have  fared  as  uncomfortably,  I  suppose,"  said  she, 
emphatically. 

"  Your  personal  rights  and  privileges  have  not  been 
infringed  upon  or  outraged  ?  "  inquired  Ralle. 

"  No  further,"  replied  Rozella,  "  than  my  being  confined 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  61 

as  a  prisoner,  and  compelled  to  make  moccasons,  wampum, 
and  baskets,  sir." 

"  Sir  1 "  repeated  the  priest,  impatiently.  "  Have  you  so- 
soon  forgotten  my  proper  title  ?  But,"  said  he,  assuming  a 
more  solemn  demeanor,  "  my  daughter's  spiritual  welfare 
must  be  no  longer  neglected  ;  you  will  therefore  now  pro- 
ceed to  make  confession  of  your  sins,  and,  after  appro- 
priate penance,  receive  absolution  for  past  offences  ;  and 
by  fastings,  scourgings  of  the  body,  and  the  zealous  per- 
formance of  works  of  supererogation,  commend  yourself 
to  the  approbation  of  the  most  holy  Catholic  church.  So 
here,"  said  he,  pointing  to  a  cushioned  stool  at  his  side, 
"  you  will  now  kneel  and  make  confession  of  your  most 
secret  sins,  whether  of  deed  or  thought." 

"  I  have  done  so  already,  and  more,  even  before  I  left 
the  lodge,"  said  Rozella,  in  reply. 

"  More  !    And  what  more  did  you  do  ?  "  said  the  priest. 

"  I  prayed,"  was  her  reply,  "  that  I  might  be  delivered 
from  this  foul  den  of  bloodthirsty  wild  beasts  ere  the 
dark  night  should  again  settle  upon  the  earth." 

H  Ha ! "  ejaculated  the  priest,  derisively  and  in  a  low 
voice,  "  it  will  be  a  long  time,  I  apprehend,  before  your 
prayer  will  be  answered.  But,"  added  he,  in  a  louder 
tone,  "you  are  to  confess  to  your  spiritual  and  holy  father 
the  priest ;  so  kneel  immediately,  and  make  confession  to 
me  of  the  inmost  secrets  of  your  heart." 

Rozella,  being  fatigued  with  standing  so  long,  seated 
herself  upon  the  low  stool,  saying,  as  she  did  so,  "  One  only 
has  power  to  forgive  sins." 

"  Right,  my  good  child,"  said  the  priest,  misinterpreting 
her  meaning,  and  thinking  he  had  prevailed  ;  at  the  same 
time  drawing  his  chair  directly  in  front  of  her,  and  bend- 
ing down  until  his  face  nearly  touched  her  own.  "  Now 
proceed  in  your  confession ;  and  if  you  shall  stand  ap- 
6 


62  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

proved  as  a  true  daughter  of  the  holy  Mother  Church, 
you  shall  not  only  receive  absolution,  but  be  removed 
this  very  night  from  the  filthy  lodge  of  Bomazeen,  and 
housed  and  treated  like  a  very  queen." 

"I  was  such  last  night,"  said  Rozella. 

"  How  so  ?  "  said  the  priest ;  "  of  what  were  you  queen 
last  night  ?  " 

"  Of  the  brave  old  forest,"  said  Rozella. 

"  How  now  ?  "  said  the  priest,  in  a  sharp  tone  of  voice  ; 
"  do  you  presume  to  trifle  with  your  holy  and  spiritual 
father?  Come,"  cried  he,  stamping  his  foot  upon  the 
floor,  "confess  at  once,  and  tell  me  all  you  have  to 
reveal." 

"  I  have  done  so  already,"  said  Rozella,  quietly. 

"  Begin,"  demanded  the  priest,  sternly,  "  and  make  im- 
mediate confession,  or  I  will  put  you  to  the  torture." 

"  You  have  done  that  already,"  was  her  reply. 

"  I  shall  wait  no  longer,"  said  the  priest,  impatiently ; 
"for  you  are  to  confess,  do  penance,  receive  absolution, 
and,  ere  the  sun  goes  down,  become  the  wife  of  the  brave 
Mogg  Hegon." 

"  Never !  never ! "  almost  shrieked  Rozella,  involuntarily 
throwing  up  her  hands  as  she  did  so,  and  thereby  displa- 
cing the  little  shawl  from  her  white  shoulders ;  "  Heaven 
will  never  allow  it.  I  would  sooner  sleep  in  death  than 
become  the  wife  of  Mogg  Hegon.  That  indeed  would  be 
an  outrage,  I  must  confess." 

"  Right,  right,"  responded  the  priest,  again  failing  to 
understand  or  follow  her  rapid  utterance,  and  catching  at 
her  last  phrase  ;  "confess,  and  let  me  know  the  darkest 
passion  of  your  heart  first,"  at  the  same  time  laying  his 
hand  familiarly  upon  her  bare  shoulder. 

As  quick  as  thought  she  struck  off  his  hand,  and,  look- 
ing him  steadily  in  the  eye,  replied,  "  You  are  a  wolf  in 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  63 

sheep's  clothing  ;  and  if  you  would  see  the  blackest  passion 
first,  look  into  your  own  foul  and  polluted  heart,  and  you 
will  find  it  there  reflected." 

As  she  paused,  big  drops  of  perspiration  suddenly  shot 
from  the  priest's  brow,  and,  starting  up,  he  walked  rapidly 
to  and  fro  before  Rozella  with  compressed  lips  and  flash- 
ing eyes,  occasionally  darting  upon  her  the  most  fiery 
glances,  as  if  to  cause  her  to  quail  before  their  fury. 

"  Yes,"  hissed  the  priest,  turning  abruptly  to  her  and 
wiping  the  beaded  perspiration  from  his  brow,  "that 
stubborn  heart  must  be  thoroughly  subdued,  cleansed, 
and  washed  ;  and  whom  shall  I  call  to  assist  in  the 
work?" 

"  Your  holiness,"  replied  Rozella,  with  emphasis, "  would 
probably  prefer  the  Indian  laundress." 

"  How  is  this  ?  "  exclaimed  the  priest,  quailing  beneath 
her  piercing  gaze.     "  How  know  you  aught  of  her  ?  " 

"  I  saw  Weseme,  your  son,  the  handsome  crossblood," 
replied  she,  with  a  meaning  look,  "  when  he  fell  with  the 
keen  knife  quivering  in  his  murderous  heart." 

"  Ah,  mon  Dieu,"  said  the  priest,  aside,  "  is  she  a  spirit 
with  whom  I  am  conversing,  who  knows  all  the  secrets  of 
my  life,  and  thus  causes  my  darkest  sins  to  rise  before  me  ? 
She  seems  very  like  one.  But,"  inquired  he,  rousing  him- 
self from  his  momentary  trance,  "  by  whose  hand  did 
Weseme  fall  ?  " 

"  Go  ask  Bomazeen,"  replied  she,  "  of  the  piercing 
shriek  that  came  from  the  clouds  when  the  great  Bashaba 
was  murdered,  and  Squando  of  the  glaring  eyes  that 
danced  along  the  bog  when  he  buried  the  palefaced  dogs." 

The  priest  now  turned  paler  than  ever,  and  sat  down, 
as  if  faint.  Presently,  however,  he  arose,  poured  some 
water,  a  draught  or  two  of  which  seemed  to  revive  him 
somewhat ;  and  she  heard  him  muttering  in  a  low  voice  a 


64  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

few  sentences,  the  last  of  which  she  was  only  able  to  hear 
distinctly  ;  which  was,  "  whether  she  be  a  spirit  or  not  I 
can  hardly  tell,  and  I  must  have  counsel." 

He  then  went  to  the  door  of  the  church,  unlocked  and 
opened  it,  when  presently  -a  large,  muscular  savage  en- 
tered, with  whom  the  priest  held  a  whispered  consultation 
in  the  porch.  As  the  priest  concluded  his  low  inquiries 
the  Indian  replied  aloud,  "  She  is  no  spirit ;  I  know  her 
well,  and  who  was  her  English  father." 

The  Indian  had  on  a  gay  blanket,  and  his  most  beauti- 
ful wampum,  with  beads,  silver  bracelets,  and  ruffles  about 
his  legs ;  all  which  constituted  a  dress  worn  only  on  his 
wedding  days.  He  came  directly  in  front  of  Rozella,  and, 
addressing  himself  to  her,  said,  "  The  young  squaw  of  the 
palefaces  should  think  it  a  great  honor  that  she  has  found 
Savor  in  the  sight  of  the  mighty  sagamore  of  Norridge- 
wock,  Mogg  Hegon  ;  for  he  it  is  who  now  stands  before 
her." 

"  I  had  supposed  as  much,"  replied  Rozella,  with  an  air 
and  tone  of  indifference. 

"  But  you  must  not  trifle  with  the  great  chief,"  replied 
Mogg,  haughtily.  "  Will  you  this  very  hour  confess  to  the 
holy  Father  Ralle,  and  marry  Mogg  Hegon?" 

"  Neither,"  firmly  replied  Rozella  ;  "  I  equally  detest 
his  holy  mummery  and  your  loathsome  presence." 

"  Enough,"  said  Mogg,  scowling  upon  her  with  an  ex- 
pression of  infernal  malice ;  and,  advancing  quickly  to  the 
door,  he  flung  it  wide  open,  when  twenty  painted  savages 
at  once  rushed  in. 

"  Take  her,"  cried  the  priest,  pointing  to  Rozella, 
"and  drag  her  to  the  cell  of  penance  below,  and  give 
her  for  company  the  mouldering  bones  of  those  once 
stubborn  like  herself,  and  around  her  limbs  lock  the 
iron  chain  to  which  the  heavy  stone  is  attached  ;   and 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  65 

when  she  will  confess  and  marry  the  great  sagamore  she 
may  come  up  to  the  light  again,  but  never  until  then." 

The  Indians  dragged  her  down  to  the  dismal  cell  as 
they  were  commanded,  and,  having  fettered  her  securely, 
left  her  alone  with  the  grinning  skulls,  frightful  images 
and  paintings,  and  instruments  of  torture. 
6* 


CHAPTER    VI 


Incident  on  the  Route  to  Norridgewock.  —  Sebago  Lake,  anb 
first  Appearance  op  the  Aurora  Borealis  on  the  -western  Con- 
tinent. 


Short,  yet  sufficiently  long,  in  the  interval  between  her 
capture  at  the  garrisons  and  the  events  recorded  in  our 
last  chapter,  had  been  Rozella's  experience  of  Indian  char- 
acter and  customs  to  enable  her  to  satisfy  herself  of  their 
utter  want  of  any  principle  founded  upon  generous  im- 
pulses or  unselfish  motives.  True,  they  would  spare  the 
life  of  one  who  had  assisted  or  befriended  them ;  but  they 
had  no  inward  motive  power  which  would  prompt  them  to 
extend  mercy  to  an  enemy  or  friendship  to  one  who  had 
not  previously  done  them  a  favor.  She  had  also  learned 
that,  notwithstanding  their  cruel  and  revengeful  natures, 
they  were  cowards  at  heart,  and  were  also  credulous  and 
easily  wrought  upon  by  the  mysterious  and  marvellous. 
Of  this  fact  one  of  the  earliest  proofs  was  exhibited  in 
their  general  agreement  that  Elsie,  as  she  rushed  out  from 
the  garrison  and  slew  the  handsome  crossblood,  was  a 
spirit  or  supernatural  being  ;  and  she  had  also  observed 
that,  while  on  their  way  through  the  forests,  they  were 
always  upon  the  alert,  and  that  every  dry  twig  that 
snapped  under  the  foot  of  some  unseen  animal  was  the 
clink  of  an  enemy's  gun,  while  every  strange  noise,  like 
that  of  a  tree  chafing  against  its  fellow,  was  the  war  cry 
of  an  ambushed  foe.  C66) 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  67 

At  the  time  Elsie  performed  the  daring  achievement  of 
slaying  the  crossblood  and  bearing  off  the  scalp  of  Charles 
Cutts,  we  left  Rozella,  as  the  reader  will  doubtless  re- 
member, tie"d  between  two  Indians.  The  whole  party  who 
witnessed  this  bold  and  heroic  deed  were  so  fearful  of 
the  anger  of  the  spirits,  of  whom  they  supposed  Elsie  to 
be  the  forerunner,  that  they  made  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments and  moved  away  from  the  haunted  spot  as  soon  as 
possible. 

The  place  to  which  they  were  destined  was  far  away 
upon  the  Kennebec.  The  Indians  paid  greater  deference 
to  Rozella  than  to  the  other  captives,  as  they  supposed 
she  was  to  be  the  wife  of  their  great  chief,  Mogg  Hegon. 
The  other  prisoners  received  more  abuse  and  suffered 
more  hardships  than  herself,  being  compelled  to  carry  the 
provisions,  together  with  such  other  articles  of  plunder  as 
they  had  taken  from  the  garrisons. 

Weary  and  faint,  they  marched  on  through  the  unbroken 
wilderness  until  nearly  noon,  when  they  arrived  at  a  little 
spring  and  halted  for  breakfast.  They  had  among  the 
provisions  taken  from  the  garrisons  some  meat  already 
boiled,  which  served  as  the  first  meal  of  the  captives  ;  and 
as  most  of  the  Indians  preferred  raw  flesh,  breakfast  was 
soon  finished,  and  they  moved  on  in  silence,  the  Indians 
continually  looking  on  all  sides  of  them,  or  peering  suspi- 
ciously at  every  prostrate  tree  or  large  rock  behind  which 
a  lurking  foe  might  lie  concealed.  Thus  they  pursued 
their  way  until  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  when 
Mrs.  Lee,  to  whose  back  was  tied  half  a  bushel  of  corn 
meal,  sank  beneath  her  burden  and  fell  exhausted  to  the 
ground.  The  Indian  to  whom  she  had  been  assigned  as 
his  prize  gave  her  a  cruel  thrust  in  the  side  with  his  gun, 
which  brought  her  to  her  feet ;  and  she  was  again  stag- 
gering on  under  her  load  when  Rozella,  whose  tender 
heart  could  no  longer  endure  the  sight  of  her  friend's 


68  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

sufferings,  sprang  forward,  and,  catching  her  in  her  arms, 
entreated  the  Indian  to  allow  her  to  carry  the  burden. 
To  this  he  consented ;  but  while  he  was  binding  the  load 
upon  her  Bomazeen  came  up,  and  commanded  the  savage 
to  carry  the  bag  himself,  for  that  he  would  disgrace  the 
great  sachem,  Mogg  Hegon,  by  making  a  beast  of  burden 
of  the  handsome  young  palefaced  squaw  they  were  carry- 
ing him  for  a  present  and  wife. 

When  they  reached  Sebago  Lake,  upon  whose  delight- 
ful shores  they  encamped  for  the  night,  the  captives  as 
well  as  the  Indians  were  extremely  fatigued,  and  threw 
themselves  upon  the  ground  seemingly  in  utter  exhaustion. 
But  the  claims  of  hunger  soon  aroused  them ;  and  in  a 
brief  space  the  camp  fires  were  blazing  up,  and  the  meat 
for  the  captives  was  smoking,  as  the  Indians  rolled  it  in 
the  hot  embers  and  ashes  and  went  through  a  sort  of  bur- 
lesque of  cookery.  But  it  was  scarcely  warmed  through 
before  it  was  laid,  with  its  double  coating  of  ashes  and 
dirt,  before  the  captives.  Rozella  was  unable  to  swallow 
but  a  mouthful  of  the  meat,  but  partook  sparingly  of  a 
little  bread,  and  water  from  the  lake.  After  the  meal  was 
finished  the  older  Indians  spread  their  blankets  for  them- 
selves and  Rozella,  together  with  some  other  of  the  women, 
while  the  younger  portion  of  the  company  were  yet  amus- 
ing themselves  upon  the  shores  of  the  lake.  They  now 
counted  their  captives,  and  found  the  whole  number,  old 
and  young,  to  be  twenty,  of  which  five  were  females. 
These  were  tied  with  cords  and  withs,  the  ends  of  which 
were  attached  to  their  own  wrists,  so  as  to  prevent  escape 
by  night.  Rozella  was  secured  by  a  rope  passing  around 
her  waist,  one  end  of  which  was  attached  to  the  wrist  of 
Bomazeen  on  one  side,  and  the  opposite  extremity  to  that 
of  an  Indian  on  the  other. 

They  had  just  lain  down  upon  the  blankets  when  the 
younger  Indians  came  running  in  a  body  from  the  lake,  so 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  69 

agitated  that  their  teeth  chattered  and  their  knees  knocked 
together  from  fear. 

"  Look  !  "  cried  they,  pointing  to  the  north  ;  "  the  world 
is  all  on  fire,  and  the  blaze  is  running  up  the  sky." 

The  older  savages  arose,  and  were  no  less  surprised  and 
struck  with  awe  and  fear  than  their  younger  companions. 
Fiery  clouds  from  the  northern  sky  flashed  upwards  into 
the  heavens,  their  scarlet  hues  dazzling  the  eye  as  they 
assumed  strange  and  fantastic  forms  of  mounted  warriors, 
who  wheeled  in  dense  columns  and  rode  with  the  fury 
of  armed  men  over  the  red  battle  ground  of  the  sky. 
Anon  they  took  the  shape  of  enormous  banners,  upon 
whose  waving  folds  seemed  painted  gigantic  combatants 
of  the  olden  time,  who  with  glittering  spears  and  flaming 
lances  met  and  closed  in  bloody  encounter  ;  and  then 
would  appear  stately  temples,  towering  far  above  the 
reach  of  mortal  sight,  which  would  stand  in  all  the  awful 
grandeur  of  their  majestic  proportions  and  wrapped  in 
monstrous  sheets  of  fire  for  a  moment,  and  then  totter  and 
fall  a  shapeless  mass  of  utter  ruin.  To  the  terror-struck 
savage,  as  he  left  his  captive  unloosed  and  free  by  the 
shore  of  Sebago  and  ran  and  hid  himself,  it  appeared  an 
impending  judgment  ominous  of  sudden  and  utter  destruc- 
tion. The  rolling  flames  still  swept  on,  and  leaped  and 
crackled  as  they  rose,  even  to  the  very  vault  of  heaven. 
The  whole  atmosphere  was  filled  with  shooting  stars  and 
fiery  meteors  ;  and  the  clouds  seemed  like  revolving  wheels 
of  fire,  from  whose  periphery  shot  stars  of  all  grades  of 
size  and  every  shade  of  color.  The  lake,  like  a  polished 
plate  of  fire,  reflected  in  its  broad  mirror  the  whole  un- 
wonted scene  ;  and  the  fishes,  as  they  leaped  from  theh*4 
native  elements,  as  if  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  strange 
spectacle  above  them,  seemed  metamorphosed  into  the 
golden-hued  denizens  of  tropical  waters.  Every  leaf  of 
the  forest  returned  ray  for  ray  ;  but  the  Crystal  Hills 


70  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

behind  and  towering  above  the  forest  for  one  ray  gave 
back  a  thousand,  until  the  red  rolling  clouds  and  vapor 
upon  their  summits  made  them  appear  like  glowing  volca- 
noes belching  forth  immense  volumes  of  fire  and  smoke. 
The  smaller  birds  fluttered  helplessly  to  and  fro,  uttering 
piteous  cries,  while  the  wild  scream  of  the  hawk,  the 
hoarse  croak  of  the  crow,  and  the  dismal  hoot  of  the  owl 
resounded  on  every  side.  The  wild  beasts  issued  from 
the  chifts  and  dens  in  the  mountain  side,  huddled  together 
in  silent  terror.  The  bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  wildcat  were 
not  only  at  peace  one  with  another,  but,  like  lambs  of  the 
same  fold,  crouched  down  together  in  the  same  hiding- 
place  in  one  harmonious  group.  The  same  prey  for  whose 
blood  the  famished  bear  but  an  hour  before  had  been 
thirsting  now  nestled  close  by  his  side,  and  was  licked  as 
his  own  cub. 

The  heart  of  Rozella  swelled  with  awe  as  she  gazed  at 
the  awful  grandeur  of  the  blazing  heavens,  and  sank  again 
within  her  heaving  bosom,  as  she  listened  to  the  din  and 
discord  of  earth's  Babel-like  confusion.  She  cast  her  eyes 
about  her  for  her  companions  in  bonds  as  well  as  for  her 
captors  ;  but  neither  were  to  be  seen. 

She  was  "  alone  with  her  glory,"  amid  the  glory  of  the 
heavens  and  the  terror  of  earth.  Whither  to  fly  she 
knew  not.  If  she  made  her  bed  in  the  lovely  Sebago, 
Death  was  there  ;  and  if  she  flew  to  the  uttermost  parts  of 
the  forest,  she  but  rushed  to  his  cold  arms  ;  for  his  hoarse 
cry  burst  from  the  mouths  of  a  hundred  wolves,  who,  as 
this  strange  phantasmagoria  faded  from  the  sky  and  Dark- 
ness had  resumed  her  reign,  had  again  commenced  their 
savage  howlings.  As  she  stood  gazing  into  the  depths  of 
'  the  dark  old  forest  she  heard  the  pattering  of  feet  behind 
her,  and,  casting  her  eyes  in  that  direction,  saw  a  dark 
line  approaching  her  with  lightning-like  rapidity  ;  and  in 
a  moment  she  saw  the  glaring  eyes  of  twenty  ferocious 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  71 

wolves,  who  were  dashing  directly  towards  her.  She 
bounded  into  the  forest,  while  the  wolves  passed  on  to  the 
lake  and  kept  on  their  rapid  course  around  its  circling 
border.  But  as  she  had  now  broken  the  spell  which  hith- 
erto had  held  her  feet  fast  to  the  earth  as  to  a  magnet,  and 
hoping  to  discover  some  of  her  friends,  she  still  advanced, 
when,  behind  the  first  large  rock  in  her  way,  she  came 
upon  an  Indian  and  a  monstrous  bear  snuggled  together 
in  brotherly  union,  both  apparently  equally  paralyzed  by 
the  electric  phenomena  of  the  heavens.  "  O,"  said  Rozella 
to  herself,  "  I  would  that  I  had  a  good  road  before  me, 
and  Flying  Cloud  alive  again  !  I  now  for  the  first  time 
realize  the  full  force  of  Richard  III.'s  famous  expres- 
sion, •  A  horse !  a  horse !  My  kingdom  for  a  horse ! ' 
How  swiftly,  were  he  now  here,  would  my  Flying  Cloud 
bear  the  rider  to  whom  he  seemed  so  devotedly  attached 
from  the  pursuit  of  every  savage  foe  safe  to  the  Elysian 
fields  of  liberty !  0  liberty  I  sweet,  sweet  liberty ! "  As 
she  uttered  aloud  the  last  words,  she  turned  quickly  to 
take  an  opposite  course,  and  ran  directly  into  the  grasp 
of  that  Old  Bloody  Bones,  Bomazeen,  who,  throwing  his 
powerful  arms  around  her,  replied,  "  Yes,  young  squaw 
got  liberty  to  go  back  with  big  chief  to  her  blanket." 
The  clouds  had  now  resumed  nearly  their  natural  ap- 
pearance ;  and  thus  ended  the  first  exhibition  of  the 
aurora  borealis  ever  seen  in  New  England. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


rozelia  in  the  lodge  op  bomazeen.  —  she  oppers  to  teach  the 
young  Indians  to  bead  in  Preference  to  making  Baskets  and 
Wampum.  —  Her  Scheme  to  prejudice  the  Indians  with  the  Fish. 


When  quiet  was  again  restored,  and  "  order  fair  pre- 
vailed," the  scattered  Indians  slowly  and  cautiously 
returned  to  their  camp  fires,  whose  smouldering  brands 
were  fitfully  tossing  their  gleaming  flashes  far  out  upon 
the  sleeping  bosom  of  the  beautiful  Sebago  ;  and  the  wild 
beasts  also  skulked  back  to  their  dens  and  coverts,  giving 
occasionally  a  sneaking  look  behind  them,  as  if  ashamed 
that  any  should  have  witnessed  their  late  terror  and 
affright. 

It  was  past  midnight  ere  Rozella  slept,  and  at  daybreak 
she  was  awakened  by  the  jerk  of  Bomazeen's  rope  around 
her  waist.  She  arose,  and,  casting  her  eyes  about  her, 
ascertained  that  herself  and  Mrs.  Lee  —  who,  being  wound- 
ed, had  been  unable  to  make  her  escape — were  the  only 
persons  of  the  twenty  who  had  been  recaptured.  Boma- 
zeen  and  five  other  Indians  were  left  to  guard  the  two 
women  ;  but  so  frightened  did  they  still  appear  that  they 
seemed  more  helpless  than  their  captives.  The  remainder 
went  in  pursuit  of  the  other  captives  ;  but  so  discouraged 
and  dejected  had  they  become  since  the  fearful  scenes 
they  had  so  lately  witnessed,  and  which  they  considered 
as  ominous  of  dire  disasters,  that,  abandoning   further 

(72) 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  73 

pursuit,  they  lounged  about  the  woods  for  a  few  days,  and 
then  slowly  went  on  their  course  towards  Norridgewock. 
Bomazeen,  witlr  his  two  captives  and  squad  of  men,  took 
a  hasty  breakfast  of  their  half-cooked  provisions,  and,  with 
such  remaining  portions  as  they  could  conveniently  carry, 
took  up  their  line  of  march  for  Norridgewock. 

The  Indians  conducted  themselves  more  humanely  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  route,  for  they  were  still  prodi- 
giously frightened  ;  and  nothing  further  worthy  of  note 
occurred  until  their  arrival  at  the  above-named  place. 

For  several  days  succeeding  their  arrival  the  Indians 
who  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  other  captives  returned 
in  scattered  detachments,  with  the  woful  stamp  of  terror 
and  dismay  still  lingering  upon  their  faces.  Not  another 
one  of  the  English  had  they  retaken,  most  of  whom  reached 
the  settlements  in  safety,  one  or  two  only  perishing  in  the 
woods  or  being  devoured  by  wild  beasts. 

Rozella  was  taken  to  the  lodge  of  Bomazeen,  as  her  re- 
cital to  the  priest  has  already  shown.  Mogg  Hegon  had 
obtained  a  sight  of  her  through  the  crevices  of  the  lodge, 
and  was  so  smitten  by  her  charms  that  he  fain  would  have 
made  her  his  own  at  once  ;  but  as  the  good  Father  Ralle 
was  absent,  he  was  obliged  —  according  to  the  custom  the 
priest  had  established  —  to  forego  that  pleasure  until  the 
holy  father  should  return  and  give  her  to  him  through  the 
formal  ceremonies  of  marriage. 

She  was  now  set  at  work  to  embroider  wampum,  and 
with  the  white  quills  of  the  hedgehog  to  ornament  the 
buckskin  moccasons,  together  with  a  variety  of  other  bead- 
work.  They  had  also  compelled  her  to  try  her  hand  at 
basketmaking,  and  also  in  coloring  with  extracts  of  the 
barks  and  berries  of  the  forest  the  twigs  of  the  willow, 
the  blades  of  rushes,  and  the  laminated  layers  of  the  ash. 

But  Rozella  was  not  long  in  arriving  at  the  conclusion 
that  the  profession  of  basketmaking,  though  highly  useful, 
7 


74  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

was  not  exactly  in  accordance  with  the  genius  and  tastes 
of  a  young  lady  who  had  been  educated  in  the  classical 
schools  of  England  ;  therefore  she  informed  one  of  Boraa- 
zeen's  squaws,  to  whose  charge  she  had  been  committed 
for  initiation  in  all  the  handicraft  and  mysteries  of  the  art, 
that  her  hands  were  unused  to  being  torn  by  the  rough 
splinters  and  filaments  of  the  ash,  and  that  she  would  per- 
form no  more  of  the  slavish  work. 

To  this  communication,  which  was  made  more  by  signs 
than  by  words,  the  squaw  replied,  "  that  she  would  be 
made  to  work,  whether  willing  or  not ;  for  Bomazeen 
compelled  all  his  squaws  to  labor.  And  besides,  the 
great  chief,  Mogg  Hegon,  wished  to  know  how  much  wam- 
pum and  basket  his  new  squaw  could  make,  as  he  valued 
them  more  for  the  amount  of  work  they  could  do  than  for 
their  handsome  looks  or  good  qualities  otherwise." 

"  Well,"  replied  Rozella,  "  I  have  no  wish  to  be  highly 
valued  by  Mogg  Hegon  or  any  other  redskin,  and  am, 
therefore,  more  than  ever  resolved  to  do  no  more  labor 
than  will  serve  to  protect  me  from  personal  abuse ;  but  I 
will  instruct  your  children  to  read,  if  you  will  allow  me  to 
first  teach  them  to  speak  English." 

"  No,"  replied  the  squaw,  indignantly  ;  "  the  tongues  of 
our  pappooses  must  not  be  poisoned  by  taking  paleface  talk 
in  their  mouth." 

"  Then,"  said  Rozella,  "  I  will  work  upon  the  wampum 
and  moccason,  but  not  extract  colors  or  make  baskets." 

At  this  juncture  some  of  the  Indians  returned  from  a 
hunting  excursion  with  game  and  fish ;  and  the  squaws 
having  informed  Bomazeen  that  the  young  paleface  re- 
fused to  work  upon  the  baskets,  Old  Bloody  Bones  there- 
upon walked  into  the  wigwam,  and,  throwing  down  a  large 
fish  before  Rozella,  said,  gruffly,  and  with  an  extra  ugh,  — 

"White  squaw  no  work  basket?  Ugh!  she  do  this, 
then." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  75 

As  she  looked  at  the  fish  lying  in  the  sun,  whose  rays 
shone  in  through  a  little  window  of  the  gloomy  old  lodge, 
its  scales  reflected  a  reddish  hue,  and  she  instantly  be- 
thought her  of  a  scheme  by  which  to  prejudice  the  minds 
of  the  Indians  and  enable  her  to  escape  the  dirty  task 
of  dressing  the  fish.  She  suddenly  started  back,  at  the 
same  time  looking  suspiciously  at  the  fish  and  mysterious- 
ly at  Bomazeen,  and  asked,  — 

"  Did  the  fish  in  the  Norridgewock  also  turn  red  on  the 
night  of  the  dreadful  fire  in  the  heavens  at  Sebago  ?  " 

The  ruse  was  successful.  The  whole  camp  was  in  a  ter- 
rible panic,  and  the  fish  was  flung  out  of  the  lodge  in  hot 
haste  and  left  to  rot  in  the  dirt. 

From  the  time  of  this  incident  until  the  arrival  of 
Ralle  the  Indians  regarded  her  with  great  awe,  and  she 
was  not  compelled  to  do  their  work.  She  was  still  close- 
ly confined,  however,  and  not  even  allowed  to  see  her  fel- 
low-captive, Mrs.  Lee,  who  was  confined  in  another  wig- 
wam. Mrs.  Lee  had  suffered  so  much  from  the  fatigue  of 
her  journey  and  the  tasks  and  abuse  of  the  savage  whose 
prize  she  was,  to  all  of  which  was  added  the  excruciating 
anguish  she .  had  experienced  on  being  compelled  to  wit- 
ness the  cruel  death  of  her  father,  Major  Richard  Wal- 
dron,  as  well  as  that  of  her  husband,  that  exhausted  nature 
at  last  gave  way,  and  she  was  seized  by  a  raging  fever, 
which  came  near  terminating  her  existence. 

But  she  finally  slowly  recovered  from  her  dreadful  suf- 
ferings, during  the  whole  of  which  she  was  not  allowed 
to  even  see  the  face  of  the  kindhearted  and  sympathizing 
Rozella. 


CHAPTER    VIII 


Scene  at  Dolly  Plot's  Hut  ox  tile  Island. — Dolly  tells  Taurus's 
fortune  for  the  first  tlme.  —  dolly  in  her  wltch  character, 
and  fluoht  of  her  companions. 


"  The  winds  forebode  no  luck  to-night,"  sorrowfully 
sighed  an  oddly-dressed,  middle-aged  female,  as  she  sat 
alone  in  an  old  hut,  around  whose  dilapidated  walls  the 
northern  blasts  whistled  drearily.  "  Yes,  I  see  them  in 
the  waving  glow  of  the  coals  ;  two  of  them  are  coming. 
Ah,  I  wonder  if  they  have  money.  If  they  have,  let  a 
dozen  of  them  come.  But  still  I  see  angry  passions  leap 
forth,  as  the  glowing  coal  bursts  and  the  gas  hisses  and 
bubbles  up  from  the  hot  embers.  Well,  I  will  wait  their 
approach  as  patiently  as  I  can,"  said  she,  taking  her  knit- 
ting work  and  plying  the  needles  fast  and  nervously. 

While  she  thus  waits  we  will  j;ake  a  closer  view  of  her- 
self and  her  little  domicile.  Her  general  appearance  seems 
quite  respectable.  The  oddest  feature  of  her  face  is  her 
nose,  which  turns  up  so  as  to  leave  a  line  drawn  from  the 
eyes  over  its  ridge  to  the  end  thereof,  nearly  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  shorter  than  the  line  from  the  eyes  to  its  base, 
thereby  forming  an  obtuse  angle  with  the  lip,  when  the 
mouth  is  closed,  (which  is  seldom  the  case,)  of  about  sixty- 
seven  and  a  half  degrees.  In  the  outset,  then,  her  nose  is 
not  in  her  favor,  for  it  is  decidedly  "  puggish,"  and,  more- 
over, contradicts  Lavater's  theory  of  physiognomy  in  toto 

(76) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  77 

by  its  evident  tendency  to  easily  take  a  snuff.  Half  of  her 
upper  teeth  were  gone,  —  that  is,  all  on  one  side,  —  which, 
as  her  mouth  was  generally  open,  caused  the  remainder  to 
look  longer  than  they  otherwise  would  have  done. 

She  was  dressed  in  a  long,  striped  gown,  which  dragged 
upon  the  floor,  with  a  chocolate-colored  ribbon  tied  around 
where  her  waist  should  have  been  ;  for  her  form  through- 
out was  "  pretty  much  of  a  muchness ; ■"  and  when  she 
moved  she  rolled  along  like  a  stuffed  sack  on  castors. 

Her  hair  was  generally  rolled  up  in  rings,  then  turned 
over  upon  the  roots  and  fastened  with  a  tooth  from  a 
broken  comb  or  a  thorn  from  the  hedge.  She  wore  two 
caps —  one  fitting  close  to  her  head  like  a  bladder,  (which, 
indeed,  it  may  have  been,)  and  the  other  of  lace,  which 
might  once  have  been  white,  with  a  narrow  frill  for  a  bor- 
der in  front,  and  a  crown  that  ran  up  a  foot  from  her  head, 
which  gave  her  a  blended  comical  and  mysterious  ap- 
pearance. 

The  house  was  of  logs  hewn  square,  one  story  in  height, 
with  three  small  windows,  and  the  chimney  made  of  round 
sticks  thickly  plastered  over  with  clay  and  mortar.  With- 
in the  walls  were  three  rooms  ;  the  first  of  which,  as  you 
passed  in,  served  as  an  entry  and  woodshed  :  then  came  the 
kitchen,  dining  room,  parlor,  and  her  own  sleeping  room,  all 
in  one  ;  and  last  in  order  was  a  bed  room  kept  for  visitors, 
around  the  walls  of  which  hung  her  own  clothing,  her  best 
bonnet,  and  a  silver-gray  cloak,  upon  the  shoulders  of  which 
was  a  long,  peaked  hood,  standing,  or  rather  running,  into 
the  air  about  two  feet,  and  terminating  in  a  sharp  cone, 
like  the  horn  of  an  anvil. 

The  chairs  were  of  the  straight,  round-posted  fashion, 
with  a  bottom  of  the  peeled  strands  of  the  ash,  and  with 
backs  rising  about  two  inches  above  the  head  of  the  oc- 
cupant. 

In  one  corner  of  the  hearth  sat  an  enormous  black  cat, 


78  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

in  whose  breast  was  a  white  star,  which  was  named  Tab  ; 
and  in  the  other  crouched  a  dog,  of  a  dingy-red  color,  which 
ordinarily  went  by  the  name  of  Pan,  though  on  Sundays 
he  was  dignified  by  the  name  of  Panther. 

Upon  the  evening  of  which  we  have  spoken  a  dim  fire 
was  flashing  up  from  the  nearly  consumed  brands  and  fling- 
ing the  long  shadows  of  the  highbacked  chairs  upon  the 
opposite  wall  of  the  room.  The  cricket  in  the  hearth,  the 
brands  burning  at  one  end  and  frying  and  whistling  at  the 
other,  and  Tab  purring  in  the  chimney  corner,  all  seemed, 
like  a  full  band,  to  be  playing  the  same  tune  ;  while  the 
rat-tat-tat  of  the  old  lady's  knitting  needles  rattled  in  the 
"  reveille  n  of  her  expected  guests  ;  but  still  they  came  not. 
The  long  shadow  of  the  tongs  upon  the  ceiling  balanced 
up  to  the  modest  shovel  opposite,  who  in  turn  chasseed 
across  to  the  ghostly  shadows  of  the  highbacked  chairs  ; 
and  they,  too,  joining  in  the  wild  revel,  the  whole  phan- 
tom crew  "  in  mystic  dance  began  to  move,"  when,  in  the 
midst  of  the  "  grand  promenade/'  the  flame  from  the  brands 
suddenly  expired,  and  they  instantly  vanished  and  were 
lost  in  darkness  and  vacuity. 

The  winds  howled  mournfully  around  the  dwelling  ;  the 
waters  of  the  river  chafed  angrily  their  rocky  banks  ;  and 
all  without  and  all  within  seemed  ghost-like  and  unreal. 

But  now  a  loud  and  sudden  rap  upon  the  door  was 
heard. 

"  Come  in,"  said  the  woman  ;  but  the  protest  of  Pan 
was  much  louder  than  her  invitation,  as  he  barked  furious- 
ly and  bounded  towards  the  door  ;  while  Tab  flew  up  the 
chimney,  in  his  flight  overturning  the  tongs,  which  in  their 
turn  upset  the  shovel,  both  raising  in  their  fall  an  awful 
din,  and  making  "  confusion  worse  confounded." 

The  door  now  opened  and  two  men  entered.  The  first 
had  on  a  shadbellied  coat,  which  might  once  have  been 
worn  by  a  Quaker,  while  upon  his  head  was  a  foxskin  cap. 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  79 

The  second  wore  a  striped  frock,  falling  to  his  knees, 
and  a  narrow-rimmed,  funnel-shaped  hat.  Upon  his  left 
cheek  was  a  large  scar  ;  and  the  lower  eyelid  on  the 
same  side  was  glued  to  the  cheek  and  looked  inflamed 
and  watery. 

The  mistress  of  the  hut  bowed  civilly,  and,  addressing 
the  foremost,  said, — 

11  Good  evening,  Mr.  Taurus." 

"  Good  evening,  Miss  Plot,"  returned  he. 

"  Good  evening,  Mr.  Janus,"  continued  the  woman,  ad- 
dressing the  other. 

"  Good  evening,  aunt  Dolly,"  replied  Janus. 

"  A  gloomy  night  without,"  observed  Taurus. 

"  Very,"  replied  Dolly ;  "  but  I  am  glad  to  see  you  ; " 
at  the  same  time  adding  in  a  low  tone,  as  she  turned  for 
one  of  the  high  chairs,  "  if  I  get  a  dab  at  the  money." 

"  What's  that  you're  saying  ?  "  asked  Taurus. 

" I  said,"  replied  Dolly,  "I  must  get  Tab  the  honey." 

"  Cats  don't  eat  honey,"  said  Janus. 

"  Tab  will  eat  any  thing  at  my  commands,"  she  an- 
swered. "  You  have  frightened  him  away,"  continued  she, 
"  for  I  can  see  him  nowhere." 

"  I  thought,"  said  Taurus,  turning  to  Janus,  "  that  she 
said  if  she  could  get  a  dab  at  the  money." 

14 1  don't  wonder  you  should  think  so,"  replied  Dolly  ; 
"  for  it  is  high  time  it  was  paid.  You  promised  that  if  I 
would  lay  a  plot  for  the  destruction  of  the  Waldrons,  so 
that  you  could  thereby  get  the  Forest  Queen,  you  would 
immediately  give  me  five  crowns." 

*'  So  I  did,"  answered  Taurus  ;  "  but  Britton  is  still 
living." 

"  Yes,"  sneered  Dolly ;  "  and  Taurus  is  still  a  coward. 
I  told  you,  if  you  would  bring  me  the  strange  Indians, 
I  would  assign  each  of  you  a  part  which,  if  well  played, 
would  destroy  the  whole  of  the  Waldrons  and  bring  away 


80  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

the  precious  jewel.  But  instead  of  taking  your  posts  at 
the  door  of  Waldron's  garrison,  as  I  directed,  and  thereby 
preventing  the  escape  of  a  single  one,  you  stood  trembling 
in  the  edge  of  the  adjacent  forest,  like  arrant  cowards  as 
ye  are.  The  scheme  I  laid  would  have  worked  well,  had 
ye  only  been  of  the  right  material  to  have  carried  it 
through." 

"  I  think,"  observed  Janus  in  a  low  tone  to  Taurus,  "  the 
least  said  about  that  part  of  the  matter  the  better.  You 
iiad  better  pay  up.  Tell  her  you  wTill  pay  her  as  soon  as 
you  can  get  the  money." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Taurus  to  Dolly,  "  I  haven't  enough 
to  pay  you  to-night  ;  but  you  may  depend  on  my  paying 
the  five  crowns.     So  let  it  rest  for  the  present." 

"  But  it  shall  not  rest  long,"  replied  Dolly.  "  And  why 
did  you  bring  me  no  company  ?  "  she  continued.  "  Do  you 
mean  to  starve  me  out  altogether  ?  " 

"  No,  no,"  answered  Taurus ;  "  but  we  have  seen  no 
strangers  on  the  road  ;  and  we  called  at  the  Buck's  Horn 
Inn  below,  and  there  were  none  there." 

"  I  suspect,"  said  Janus,  "  that  these  bloody  Indian  fights 
have  frightened  away  all  the  new  settlers ;  and  as  it  is 
getting  late  in  the  season,  we  shall  not  have  many  more 
come  in  to  take  up  the  land  until  spring  opens." 

"  But,  aunt  Dolly,"  said  Taurus,  "  you  have  never  told 
my  fortune  yet,  notwithstanding  our  long  acquaintance 
and  the  crowds  of  customers  I  have  brought  you." 

"Very  well,"  replied  Dolly,  "I  will  do  so  now." 

Trundling  along  to  a  little  table,  and  trundling  that 
into  the  middle  of  the  floor,  she  drew  out  a  drawer,  from 
which  she  took  a  pack  of  cards  ;  and  the  precious  trio 
seated  themselves  around  it. 

"  I  am  not  in  very  good  spirits  to-night,"  said  Dolly, 
"  from  my  disappointment." 

"  Well,"  replied  Taurus,  drawing  a  wooden  canteen  from 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  81 

bis  pocket,  and,  with  a  broad  grin,  shaking  it  at  her  ear, 
"  d'ye  hear  it  chipper?  There,  take  a  good  swig  of  that. 
'Twill  put  you  in  spirits  if  you  first  put  the  spirits  in 
yourself." 

Dolly  poured  out  a  cupful ;  and  as  she  was  raising  it  to 
her  lips,  Janus  inquired  why  she  did  not  sweeten  it. 

"  It  is  sweet  enough  as  it  is,"  replied  Dolly,  as  she 
tossed  off  the  whole  at  a  draught.  Taurus  and  Janus 
each  followed  suit,  and  were  then  ready  to  proceed  to 
business. 

"  There,"  said  Dolly,  as  she  shuffled  the  pack  ;  "  now 
wish." 

Taurus  cut  the  cards  as  she  held  them  in  her  hand,  and 
laid  them  upon  the  table.  Dolly,  proceeding  in  the  ap- 
proved method,  now  took  the  half  which  had  been  cut,  and 
turning  them  over,  exclaimed,  "  0,  bad  luck,  to  start  with. 
You  not  only  lose  your  wish,  but,  see !  here  is  the  Jack  of 
Spades  heels  up.  Here  you  are  standing  on  your  head." 
She  then  spread  out  the  cards,  and  added,  "  The  Queen  of 
Hearts,  with  the  Six  of  Spades  upon  her  face,  and  the  Ace 
of  Clubs  with  diamonds  looking  upon  it.  That  signifies 
that  you  wished  about  a  light-complected  lady,  with  black 
hair  and  eyes  ;  and  the  diamonds  show  that  the  eyes  are 
very  brilliant." 

u  Same  one,  egad,"  said.  Taurus. 

"  I  believe  she  does  know  something,"  said  Janus. 

"  0,  trouble,  trouble  ! "  cried  Dolly.  "  Here  you  are 
again,  Taurus,"  showing  the  Jack  of  Clubs  heels  up,  "  with 
two  men  of  power  and  one  of  attraction  between  your- 
self and  the  lady  of  whom  you  wished,  standing  on  your 
head.  The  first,  the  King  of  Spades,  with  two  Fours  of 
Diamonds,  and  hearts  upon  his  hand  ;  and  the  Six  of 
Hearts  crossing  the  Si*,  of  Spades,  one  before  and  the 
other  behind  him.  This  shows  him  to  be  a  man  of  power 
and  learning,  as  the  two  Fours  indicate  a  book.     The  two 


82  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

Sixes  crossed  in  front  and  rear  signify  that  he  wears  a 
cross." 

"  That's  the  old  priest  down  there,"  said  Taurus. 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  replied  Dolly.  "  The  other  is  the 
King  of  Diamonds,"  she  continued,  "and  signifies  an  ob- 
stinate man,  of  fiery  temper  and  revengeful  disposition. 
Next  to  him  is  another,  inferior  king,  and  men  and  women 
of  lesser  note.  This  shows  him  to  be  a  man  of  authority, 
with  a  subordinate  king  and  his  subjects  all  under  his  feet. 
The  other  person  who  stands  between  you  and  your  wish 
is  not  a  king,  and  it  does  not  appear  what  he  will  become. 
The  rest  is  all  confusion.  This  is  what  relates  to  the  past. 
Now  wish  again  as  I  shuffle  the  cards." 

"  Ready  —  all  ready,"  said  Jack,  as  she  shuffled. 

"  Well,  then,  cut,"  said  Dolly. 

Taurus  was  now  afraid  that,  if  he  cut  deep,  he  should 
come  in  contact  with  the  gentleman  in  boots  ;  so  he  only 
out  one  or  two  of  the  top  cards.  Dolly  looked  upon  his 
cut,  and  there  was  the  Queen  of  Spades  standing  upon  the 
head  of  the  identical  Jack. 

"  Coward  —  coward  ! "  said  Dolly.  "  Here  you  are  on 
your  head  again,  under  the  foot  of  the  same  brighteyed 
woman.  Hold  ! "  cried  she  ;  "  what  is  this  ?  She  is  a 
smart  one  ;  for  she  has  not  only  overthrown  you,  but  the 
big  king  and  all  his  subjects,  save  the  man  with  the  cross, 
and  stands  with  two  Tens,  which  denote  a  triumphant 
banner  waving  victoriously  over  all  her  enemies." 

"  Faith  !  "  said  Taurus.  * 

u  Fury  ! "  cried  Janus. 

"  Fun  !  "  chuckled  Dolly. 

"  Is  that  all  ?  "  cried  both  her  visitors  at  once. 

"  Hold  !"  replied  she  ;  "here  is  the  same  person  whose 
future  destiny  I  could  not  see  before.  He  is  close  behind 
the  kings  with  an  avenging  army.  Three  Tens  behind 
them  assure  him  the   victory.      The  blackhaired  woman 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  83 

of  whom  you  wished  is  the  conqueror  of  the  chief  and 
priest,  and  this  man  is  the  destroyer." 

"  Of  what  color  are  his  hair  and  eyes  ?  "  asked  Taurus. 

"  He  has  dark-brown  hair  and  blue  eyes,  which  is  shown 
by  the  position  of  these  cards,"  said  Dolly,  holding  out  a 
diamond  between  two  spades.  Now,"  said  Dolly,  "  wish 
once  more,  and  for  the  last  time." 

The  cards  were  again  shuffled  and  cut  as  before. 

Again  were  they  turned  up  for  Taurus's  luck  ;  and  with 
a  deep  sigh  Dolly  exclaimed,  "  Bad  luck — bad  luck  for 
Taurus.  He  stands  directly  between  a  long  string  of 
clubs  and  spades  —  one  ace  indicating  a  letter,  but  another 
spade  behind  it  indicating  bad  news.  Your  life  for  the 
future  will  'be  dark.  0,  here  is  something  more ;  but  what 
is  it  ?  Truly,  there  is  the  man  between  whom  and  the 
darkhaired  lady  was  the  chief  and  the  man  with  the  cross 
and  book  —  now  standing  face  to  face  with  her,  lucky  dog 
that  he  is,  and  with  his  feet  upon  the  heads  of  both  the 
king  and  his  friend." 

"  That's  Britton  Waldron,"  said  Janus. 

"  I  have  heard  enough,"  groaned  Taurus. 

"  So  I  should  think,"  replied  Dolly.  "  Here  you  are 
again  in  the  very  last  of  the  pack,  with  two  red  trays  upon 
your  breast  and  One  of  Spades  upon  your  back.  0  Jack, 
Jack !  this  indicates  that  you  will  die  with  blood  upon 
your  soul,  and  a  dagger  planted  by  your  own  hand  in 
your  breast,  far  away  from  home  and  friends." 

"  Enough !"  bellowed  Taurus,  as  he  knocked  the  cards 
from  her  hands  and  scattered  them  all  over  the  floor,  and 
wiped  off  the  streaming  perspiration  from  his  temples. 

"  Not  enough,"  retorted  Dolly,  angrily  ;  "  you  must  pay 
me  three  shillings  for  what  I  have  told  you,  and  another 
shilling  for  your  insult  in  striking  the  cards  from  my 
hands." 

"I  shall  not  pay  for  such  a  bad  fortune  as  that  you  have 
told  me,"  said  he. 


84  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

"  I  have  only  shown  you  the  cards,"  said  Dolly  ;  "  and, 
besides,  both  of  you  told  nearly  half  your  own  fortune  as 
I  proceeded.  Did  I  deceive  you  in  a  single  card?  And 
did  they  not  come  precisely  in  the  order  in  which  I  called 
them  off?" 

"  Well,"  said  Taurus,  "I  suppose  they  did." 

"  Then,"  said  Dolly,  "  I  suppose  you  must  pay  me  the 
four  shillings." 

"  I  haven't  got  it,"  replied  he. 

"  Then  111  make  you  get  it,"  said  she. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  you  do  it,"  said  Taurus  ;  "  for  here 
are  two  of  us  against  only  one  old  woman." 

"  Ha !  ha  ! "  laughed  Dolly,  derisively  :  "  I  have  power 
enough  at  my  command  to  destroy  a  regiment  of  cowards 
like  ye." 

"  Ha !  ha ! "  they  both  retorted,  mockingly  ;  "  we  should 
like  to  see  you  use  it." 

Dolly  instantly  opened  the  door  leading  to  the  wood- 
shed or  entry  of  the  hut,  adroitly  removing  the  key  from 
the  lock  as  she  did  so,  and  in  a  moment  returned,  and 
while  replenishing  the  fire  dropped  the  key  upon  the  hot 
coals.  While  engaged  in  arranging  the  fire  the  key  be- 
came redhot,  when,  seizing  it  with  a  little  hook  lying  in 
the  chimney  corner,  she  hurried  back  as  if  to  close  the 
door,  and  again  replaced  it  in  the  lock. 

"  Now,"  said  Dolly,  "  is  the  money  ready  ?  " 

"  Not  a  farthing,"  said  Jack,  and  at  the  same  time  add- 
ing tauntingly,  "  Let's  see  what  power  you  poss ; "  the 

concluding  syllable  of  which  he  was  unable  to  finish,  for 
his  mouth  was  full  of  pins.  Jack  spit  and  sputtered  as 
he  tried  to  clear  his  mouth,  and  sweat  worse  than  ever. 
Dolly  next  placed  her  hand  on  the  table,  which  imme- 
diately commenced  tipping  and  dancing,  and  finally  start- 
ed off  in  a  lively  canter  around  the  room. 

Janus  now  seized  his  hat,  and,  with  Pan  snapping  and 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  85 

snarling  close  in  his  rear,  made  a  rush  for  the  door,  when 
his  hand,  coming  in  contact  with  the  key,  was  burned  to 
the  bone,  and  he  roared  aloud  with  agony.  Taurus  tried 
his  hand  at  it,  and  with  the  same  result.  As  they  whirled 
about  to  see  what  position  Dolly  was  in,  black  Tab  sud- 
denly slid  down  the  chimney,  covered  with  an  -indefinite 
quantity  of  soot  and  scattering  the  ashes  and  embers  in 
all  directions,  and  now  stood,  with  arched  back  and  eyes 
of  green,  glaring  frightfully  upon  the  scared  visitors. 

u  0,  mercy  ! "  shrieked  Taurus. 

u  0,  murder!"  roared  Janus. 

"  0,  money  ! "  cried  Dolly  Plot. 

"  I  have  but  a  shilling,"  said  Taurus. 

"  'Twont  do,"  said  Dolly,  as  she  mounted  the  broomstick 
which  galloped  around  the  room,  with  Tab  following  in 
the  rear,  while  Pan  jumped  upon  the  table  and  set  up  a 
most  unearthly  and  dismal  howling.  Taurus  flew  again 
to  the  door  ;  but  it  was  locked  and  the  key  gone. 

Janus  commenced  prying  up  the  window,  when  a  large 
black  hog  ran  between  his  legs,  knocking  him  into  the 
middle  of  the  floor  and  under  the  table,  and  kept  on  his 
course,  grunting  and  squealing,  till  he  came  to  the  wall, 
upon  which  he  leaped  and  cantered  along  like  a  horse 
within  the  ring  of  a  circus. 

"  Here,"  said  Janus,  giving  Taurus  a  shilling,  "  is  all  I 
have  ;  put  it  with  your  own,  and  let's  see  if  we  can't  put  a 
stop  to  these  infernal  doings." 

The  hog  disappeared  from  the  walls  ;  and  Dolly  walked 
out  of  her  little  bed  room,, saying,  "  Not  enough." 

"  It's  every  farthing  we  can  raise,"  replied  the  men. 

Dolly  answered  by  blowing  a  long  stream  of  fire  from 
her  mouth  and  darting  furious  and  terrible  glances  at  the 
worthy  brace  before  her. 

"  Take  my  hat  and  shadbelly,"  shouted  Taurus,  throwing 
them  on  the  table,  "  and  I  will  redeem  them  to-morrow." 
8 


86  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

"And  mine,  too," joined  in  Janus,  flinging  the  funnel- 
shaped  hat  and  striped  frock  on  top  of  the  others. 

"  See  that  ye  fail  not  to  redeem  them  to-morrow,"  cried 
Dolly,  as  she  opened  the  door  and  allowed  her  terror- 
struck  visitors  to  pass  out,  "  or  I  bridle  both  of  ye  to-mor- 
row night,  and  ride  you  twenty  miles  each." 

Thus  runneth  the  legend. 


CHAPTER    IX 


Scenery  of  Norridgewock.  —  Another  Interview  between  Rozella, 
the  Priest,  and  Mogg  Hegon.  —  Arrival  of  the  Soldiers  at  Nor- 
ridgewock.  —  Interview  between  Squire  Langdell  and  Waldron, 
and  the  SauiRE's  Pledge  of  Rozella.  —  Dreadful  Slaughter  of 
the  Indians.  —  Death  of  Father  Ralle  and  Recapture  of  Ro- 
zella. 


Never  did  the  little  village  at  Norridgewock  look  more 
beautifully  picturesque  than  upon  that  bright  October 
morning  when  Rozella  Langdell  was  confined  in  the  damp 
and  dismal  cell,  beneath  the  foot  of  "  the  beast,"  which  was 
crushing  the  warm  lifeblood  from  her  youthful  heart ; 
and  yet,  to  the  eye  of  a  casual  observer,  that  "  beast,"  so 
untiring  in  its  hate  and  so  ruthless  in  its  revenge,  seemed 
harmless  as  a  lamb,  and  had  its  abode  in  an  edifice  taste- 
fully decorated  within  and  without.  This  building  stood, 
with  the  little  Indian  settlement  surrounding  it,  from  the 
bank  of  the  river  to  the  edge  of  the  adjacent  forest.  Both 
the  village  and  church  were  upon  an  enchanting  intervale 
formed  by  a  graceful  curve  of  the  Kennebec,  while  all 
around  and  beyond  stretched  a  pathless  and  unbroken 
wilderness  of  primeval  forest  in  all  its  gloom  and  glory. 
As  the  observer  stood  upon  the  shore  of  its  silvery  waters, 
he  took  in  at  one  view  the  little  islands  that,  like  fairy 
gems,  studded  the  bright  expanse ;  while  in  the  distant 
horizon,  as  though  the  world  extended  no  farther,  he  saw 
a  range  of  blue  and  lofty  mountains  skirting  the  sky. 

(87) 


88  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

And  the  matin  song,  chanted  in  these  romantic  soli- 
tudes, might  have  resounded  joyously  in  the  ear  of  the 
devout  worshipper,  as  it  mingled  with  the  murmuring  mu- 
sic of  the  distant  waterfall,  had  not  beneath  its  dulcet 
tones  pined  a  human  soul  of  more  intrinsic  worth  than  all 
the  formal  devotees  at  the  shrine  of  earth's  proudest  tem- 
ple, but  whose  sad  and  plaintive  notes  of  woe  rose  and 
blended  with  the  ascending  oblations. 

But  around  this  scene  of  Nature's  unbounded  freedom 
and  man's  inhuman  oppression  notes  of  more  discordant 
din  were  ready  to  burst  upon  the  unsuspecting  villagers 
and  worshippers  from  bosoms  surcharged  with  heroic  de- 
termination and  burning  desire  for  revenge.  A  little 
force  had,  unobserved  by  its  occupants,  reached  the  thick 
wood  but  a  short  distance  from  the  Indian  settlement. 
Captain  Moulton,  from  York,  Harmon,  and  Yaughan  (the 
first  two  sent  out  by  the  government)  had  raised  a  band 
of  soldiers  consisting  of  about  eighty  men  each,  to  which 
the  little  band  from  Cocheco — among  whom  were  Brit- 
ton  Waldron,  Squire  Matthew  Langdell,  and  Robert 
Vaughan,  the  leading  spirits  of  the  enterprise — was  at- 
tached. 

The  whole  band  were  in  high  spirits  with  but  two  ex- 
ceptions —  Squire  Langdell  and  Britton  Waldron.  The 
squire's  heart  was  almost  broken  with  sorrow ;  and  as  he 
neared  the  den  in  which  his  idol  daughter  was  incarcer- 
ated, scalding  tears  of  anxious  grief  coursed  down  his 
furrowed  cheeks. 

"  0  Rozella,"  he  incoherently  soliloquized,  "  what  sor- 
row have  I  brought  upon  your  young  and  tender  heart  by 
bringing  you  to  these  inhospitable  wilds,  where  beasts  are 
wilder  than  nature,  and  man  more  ferocious  than  they ! 
Would  that  I  could  regain  my  stolen  lamb  and  return  her 
to  the  enclosure  of  her  father's  fold  ere  the  howling  wolves 
drink  up  her  warm  and  innocent  blood !     0  Rozella  if  we 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  89 

ne'er  recover  you  alive,  this  heart  will  break  in  its  lonely 
anguish  and  these  gray  locks  soon  be  pillowed  in  the 
silent  grave !  " 

"  But  we'll  fight,"  said  Waldron,  coming  up  in  season  to 
catch  the  squire's  concluding  words  ;  "  and  terribly  will 
we  avenge  her  wrongs,  until  the  red  fiends'  blood  shall 
flow  like  water  and  our  vengeance  be  fully  satiated." 

"  But  our  blood,  too,"  said  the  squire,  "  may  run  as  free- 
ly as  theirs." 

"  Ay  ;  let  it,  then,"  replied  Waldron.  "  My  blood  is  no 
better  than  that  of  my  brave  old  father,  which  ran  so 
freely  in  that  fatal  fray,  and  upon  whose  face  and  breast 
these  clerks  of  their  infernal  master  and  accountants  of 
the  pit  of  perdition  crossed  out  their  forged  accounts,  and 
made  their  false  entries  with  the  pen  of  the  hissing  steel, 
dipped  in  the  inky  blackness  of  their  murderous  hearts. 
But,"  continued  he,  "if  I  cannot  obtain  Rozella  alive, 
together  with  the  heart  and  hand  which,  sir,  (at  the  same 
time  bowing  low  and  almost  reverentially  before  him,)  I 
had  hoped,  with  your  kind  approbation  and  consent,  one 
day  to  call  my  own,  then  will  the  heart  of  Britton  Wal- 
dron find  relief  in  death,  and  have  gained  the  height  of  its 
ambition  in  earning  by  his  death,  in  attempting  to  rescue 
her,  a  place  to  sleep  its  long  slumber  by  her  side." 

"  Worthy  and  noble  son  !  "  replied  the  squire,  —  "  for  I 
must  call  you  such,  —  let  the  leaves  of  these  brave  old 
oaks,  now  rustling  in  the  breeze,  record  the  acknowledg- 
ment upon  their  dry  and  polished  surfaces  ;  and  when  1 
refuse  to  recognize  you  as  the  affianced  husband  of  Rozel- 
la, may  they  fly  to  my  feet  as  swift  witnesses  of  my  faith- 
lessness." 

As  the  squire  closed,  his  extended  hand  was  cordially 
grasped  by  Waldron,  who  then,  turning  to  the  company 
of  which  he  had  been  chosen  lieutenant,  shouted,  in  ani- 
mating tones, — 

8* 


90  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

"  Soldiers  of  Cocheco,  are  you  ready  ?  " 

"All  ready,"  responded  Captain  Robert  Vaughan, 
promptly,  "  with  our  knives  keenly  whetted  to  peel  off 
the  redskins." 

Moulton,  Harmon,  and  Vaughan  now  conferred  together ; 
and  it  was  decided  that  Captain  Moulton  should  proceed 
a  short  distance  down  the  river  to  make  an  attack  on  the 
right,  and  that  Captain  Harmon  should  attack  the  left ; 
while  Captain  Vaughan,  with  Waldron  and  Langdell,  to- 
gether with  the  other  brave  heroes  of  Cocheco,  who 
begged  to  be  allowed  to  occupy  the  most  exposed  posi- 
tion, were  to  attack  the  front. 

By  a  signal  of  the  firing  of  a  gun  the  attack  was  to  be 
simultaneous  from  each  division. 

In  the  rear  of  the  village  ran  the  river,  through  whose 
strong  and  rapid  current  it  seemed  unlikely  that  many' 
could  escape. 

While  the  little  army  was  thus  stationed,  and,  like  the 
war  horse,  were  "  ready  to  go  out  to  meet  the  armed  men, 
smelling  the  battle  afar  off,  the  noise  of  the  captains,  and 
the  shouting,"  so  impatient  were  they  for  the  signal  to  be 
given  for  the  fierce  onslaught,  a  scene  was  transpiring 
within  a  dark  cell  beneath  the  French  chapel  in  the  vil- 
lage of  a  character  quite  different. 

Rozella  Langdell  was  in  the  midst  of  one  of  those  "  pas- 
toral visits  "  from  her  diabolical  tormentors  with  which 
she  had  been  previously  favored.  The  chain  about  her 
ankle  had  worn  quite  through  the  skin,  and  the  limb  was 
swollen  and  inflamed.  She  now  stood  in  the  presence  of 
and  between  "  the  good  Father  Ralle"  and  the  great  chief 
Mogg  Hegon.  Her  face  was  pale  and  sunken ;  and  the 
scalding  tears  had  so  inflamed  those  eyes,  once  so  bril- 
liant, that  they  had  become  bleared  and  lustreless.  Her 
once  glossy  hair  had  become  matted  together  with  the 
dust  and  damp  of  her  cell,  and  fell  in  tangled  and  dishev- 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  91 

elled  locks  over  her  faded  features  like  wilted  leaves  over 
a  withered  flower.  Her  dress,  torn  and  disordered,  gave 
indication  of  the  ruthless  hands  by  which  she  had  been 
dragged  to  her  prison  ;  and  her  head  was  dropped  for- 
ward, with  her  chin  resting  upon  her  breast.  To  all  these 
concomitants  of  woe  we  have  only  to  add  the  galling 
chain,  with  the  heavy  stone  attached  thereto,  and  the  sad 
picture  is  complete. 

How  different  now  are  her  looks  and  feelings  from  those 
which  animated  her  bosom  on  that  bright  May  morning 
when,  upon  Flying  Cloud,  she  bounded  into  the  glorious 
old  forest  at  Merry  Meeting  amid  the  tossing  up  of  hats, 
the  waving  of  handkerchiefs,  and  the  joyful  shouts  of  the 
whole  welcoming  multitude ! 

Can  that  be  the  polished  brow  which  once  received  the 
flowery  crown  for  its  unequalled  loveliness  ?  And  listen 
—  in  pity,  listen !  Was  it  that  voice  which  then  thrilled 
the  grove  with  its  silvery  warblings,  like  the  gushing  song 
of  some  happy  wild  bird,  as  she  so  gracefully  rose  with  her 
floral  honors  blossoming  upon  her  brow  ?  And  does  she 
now,  as  then,  sing, — 

"  How  glorious  the  scene,  and  how  joyful  the  day, 
In  the  old  woods  of  green,  in  the  young  month  of  May  "  ? 

And  I  wonder  if  in  that  gloomy  cell,  with  those  grinning 
skulls,  and  mouldering  crossbones,  and  horrid  implements 
of  torture,  — 

"  Tis  May  —  always  May  "  ? 

Ah,  those  sobs  which  break  from  her  agonized  bosom 
would  hardly  indicate  that  such  is  now  the  case.  Even 
the  grave  old  forest  seems  to  groan  aloud  in  agonizing 
responses  to  her  broken  wailings  ;  and  at  the  sad  condi- 
tion of  their  fallen  queen  the  stern  granite  sentinels  weep 
from  crystal  eyes  beneath  their  sombre  brows  of  matted 
moss. 


92  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

But  what  has  the  lighthearted  and  innocent  girl  done 
to  merit  this  cruel  fate,  or  what  does  she  now  do  ?  Does 
she  curse  that  triple  monster  seen  by  Elsie  Tufton  in  her 
ravings,  with  Janus's  face,  Taurus's  eyes,  and  Dolly  Plot's 
heart  ?  No  ;  not  a  curse  is  conceived  in  that  kind  heart 
or  is  ushered  into  being  upon  her  forgiving  breath.  For 
what,  then,  does  she  suffer  ?  Listen  while  the  priest  breaks 
the  silence. 

'•  My  daughter  has  suffered  here  long  enough  to  have  had 
her  stubborn  heart  softened  and  subdued.  Will  she  now 
confess  to  her  spiritual  and  most  holy  father,  do  penance, 
receive  absolution,  and  marry  Mogg  Hegon?" 

"  Neither,"  was  Rozella's  response,  "  as  I  have  often  de- 
clared to  you.  My  resolution  is  unchanged  and  unchange- 
able ;  and  as  you  find  me  to-day,  such  shall  I  be  to-morrow 
and  forever." 

"  Then,"  replied  the  priest,  "  you  must  suffer  still  fur- 
ther." 

"  But  a  little  further,"  replied  Rozella,  "  can  I  suffer  ere 
all  will  be  over  ;  which  I  trust  will  be  soon,  if  I  must  con- 
tinue here." 

"  What  impiety  !  "  caid  the  priest.  "  Would  you  die  an 
unbeliever  and  without  my  pardon  and  blessing  ?  This 
hand,  if  I  lay  it  upon  your  head,  brings  life,  pardon,  and 
a  blessing ;  if  I  withhold  it,  death,  imprecation,  and  a 
curse." 

"  Ugh ! "  grunted  Mogg  Hegon  ;  "  that  bring  white  squaw 
up  to  the  track  and  put  her  on  the  scent." 

"  Your  blessing  and  your  curse,"  replied  Rozella,  rais- 
ing her  head  and  fixing  a  calm  and  unterrified  gaze  upon 
the  priest,  "  are  alike  valueless  in  my  eyes  ;  and  I  would 
avoid  the  contact  of  your  hand,  had  I  the  power  to  do  so, 
as  I  would  the  venomous  fangs  of  a  serpent  ;  for  he,  like 
yourself,  could  only  kill  the  body;  while  tiie  soul  would  fly 
to  the  great  Centre  of  goodness  from  whence  it  first 
Ki  ZfrQSC,  unharmed  and  unpolluted." 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  93 

"  Mogg  Hegon,"  said  the  priest,  turning  pale  with  rage, 
u  to  what  instrument  of  torture  shall  we  resort  to  punish 
this  obdurate  heretic  ?  n 

"  Ugh  ! M  responded  Mogg  ;  "  use  rack,  holy  father  ; 
stretch  white  squaw  by  wrists  and  heels —  two  turns  make 
her  confess  and  glad  to  marry  big  chief ;  if  not  willing, 
pull  joints  apart,  like  other  bad  squaw." 

"  Bring  out  the  rack,  then/'  cried  the  priest  \  and  Mogg 
sprung  to  a  dark  recess  at  one  end  of  the  cell  and  rolled 
out  a  strongly-constructed  frame  of  heavy  timbers,  and 
mounted  on  wooden  rollers,  into  the  middle  of  the  apart- 
ment. "  There,"  said  the  priest,  M  bind  her  hand  and  foot 
upon  it,  and  wrench  her  frame  to  the  utmost  limits  of 
endurance,  and  at  sundown  tighten  the  chains  still  further." 

Mogg  Hegon  rudely  laid  hold  of  Rozella's  delicate  form 
and  dragged  her  forward  to  the  rack.  As  she  reached 
the  infernal  instrument  of  torture  she  fell  upon  her  knees, 
and,  lifting  her  eyes  and  hands  towards  heaven,  cried 
aloud, — 

"  Father,  in  the  name  of  Him  who  is  mighty  and  able 
to  save  the  weak  and  perishing,  I  ask  for  aid  and  succor. 
And  if  the  kingdom  of  heaven  suffereth  violence,  I  take  it 
by  the  force  of  perfect  faith  —  offering  as  my  surety  the 
bonds  of  love  he  sealed  and  signed  by  his  death  ;  there- 
fore I  take  no  denial." 

"  God  hears  not  the  impious  prayers  of  the  heretical 
unbeliever,"  said  the  priest  sternly  ;  when,  as  the  last  word 
escaped  his  lips,  the  rattling  volley  of  a  hundred  muskets 
burst  in  upon  them  through  the  shattered  windows  of  the 
church,  while  balls  whistled  and  splinters  flew  in  every 
direction,  and  the  chapel  trembled  and  rocked  like  a 
foundering  vessel  in  a  hurricane. 

Father  Ralle  and  Mogg  Hegon  rushed^  in  wild  haste  up 
the  dark  stairway  of  the  cell  and  sallied  forth  to  the  fight, 
which  was  every  where  raging  with  the  utmost  fury.   Wild 


94  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

yells  and  frightful  war  whoops  broke  from  the  throats  of 
a  hundred  infuriated  savages,  contrasting  strangely  with 
the  utter  stillness  on  the  part  ot  the  English,  who  were 
doing  their  avenging  work  in  stern  silence ;  while  above 
the  yells,  and  vdioops,  and  rolling  volleys  of  gun  and  mus- 
ket rose  the  piercing  screech  of  death  agony  and  the 
awful  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying. 

Old  Bloody  Bones  rallied  the  warriors  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  lodge,  which  was  attacked  by  Moulton  ;  while 
on  the  left  Harmon's  brave  band  met  the  savage  foe  in 
fierce  and  bloody  encounter.  Ere  the  first  attack  had 
been  made  the  Indians  about  the  settlement  had  caught 
sight  of  the  approaching  foe,  and  hastily  rallied  a  part  of 
their  warriors  for  the  conflict.  The  English,  according 
to  previous  arrangement,  allowed  the  Indians  to  fire  the 
first  volley,  who  overshot  their  mark,  as  they  anticipated. 
At  the  same  instant,  and  while  the  Indians  were  between 
themselves  and  the  chapel,  the  men  under  Vaughan  re- 
ceived the  stern  command  to  fire  ;  and  the  sharp  scythe  of 
Death  mowed  down  a  long  winrow  of  mutilated  corpses. 
The  remaining  part  of  the  panic-stricken  redskins  wheeled 
to  the  left  to  make  good  their  escape  in  that  direction ; 
but  they  only  ran  to  the  hot  embrace  of  Moulton's  gallant 
band,  who  poured  anew  into  their  fast  thinning  ranks  the 
leaden  messengers  of  death. 

Again  they  wheeled  to  escape  up  the  river,  where  Har- 
mon's bloody -reapers  stood  ready  and  waiting  to  thrust 
their  keen  sickles  of  exterminating  vengeance  into  the 
ripened  human  harvest  now  waving  before  them.  Sudden 
destruction  came  upon  them  as  a  whirlwind,  and  the  rout 
was  complete. 

Ralle,  as  he,  with  Mogg  Hegon,  flew  from  the  church, 
rushed  to  the  foot  of  the  cross,  resolved  to  give  his  own 
life  to  save  his  flock ;  but  the  Indians,  unwilling  to  be 
outdone  in  heroic  sacrifice  for  their  common  cause,  rallied 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  95 

around  him  an'd  formed  a  breastwork  of  their  bodies,  to 
protect  his  life  by  giving  their  own.  But  their  generous 
devotion  was  of  no  avail ;  and  priest  and  people  fell, 
pierced  and  mangled  by  a  hundred  balls  from  the  death- 
dealing  weapons  of  their  inexorable  foes. 

Coffin,  whose  wife  Bomazeen  had  so  brutally  murdered, 
by  dashing  out  the  brains  of  her  infant  babe  over  her  own 
head,  now  for  the  first  time  caught  sight  of  Old  Bloody 
Bones,  and  bounded  like  a  ferocious  panther  on  his  prey. 
Bomazeen  turned  from  his  furious  attack  and  fled  towards 
the  river.  But  his  implacable  pursuer  followed  with  light- 
ning speed  and  overtook  his  flying  mark,  though,  ere  he 
reached  it,  he  was  maddened  by  the  anguish  of  a  dozen 
arrows  shot  from  the  Indians  in  his  flight  and  now  ran- 
kling in  his  quivering  flesh.  They  both  struck  the  water 
together  ;  but  Coffin  inflicted  the  first  stab,  whereupon  the 
old  chief  turned  like  a  tiger  upon  his  tormentors,  and  the 
combat  commenced. 

After  the  first  blow,  and  as  they  closed  for  the  final 
struggle,  Bomazeen  had  struck  the  knife  from  his  adver- 
sary's hand,  and  Coffin  had  broken  the  bow  of  the  chief. 
To  such  extreme  tension  were  the  nerves  and  muscles  of 
each  strung  that  their  limbs  trembled  as  if  in  the  expiring 
throes  of  death.  The  water  of  the  river  where  they  were 
now  standing  was  nearly  to  their  waists,  and  the  bottom 
was  muddy. 

Coffin  now  seized  the  long  lock  of  hair  upon  the  crown 
of  the  chiefs  head,  and,  forming  a  pulley  by  winding  it 
around  his  .hands,  pried  out  with  his  thumb  one  of  the 
glaring  balls  of  the  chief,  which  fell  and  sunk  in  the  water 
before  his  face.  But  the  infuriated  savage  rallied,  and 
forced  him  under  the  water  until  he  became  nearly  uncon- 
scious, when,  collecting  all  his  energies  for  a  last  effort,  he 
broke  from  the  chiefs  grasp  and  rose  to  the  surface.  As 
he  came  up  he  caught  the  limbs  of  the  Indian,  turned  him 


96  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

head  downward,  and,  throwing  his  whole  weight  upon 
him,  planted  him  heels  up  in  the  soft  mud,  where  he  quae 
kled,  and  kicked,  and  writhed  in  agony,  but  never  again 
arose  to  light. 

Whilst  this  deadly  encounter  was  transpiring  at  the 
river,  other  contests  of  equal  fury  were  raging  in  and 
about  the  church.  Mogg  Hegon,  as  he  rushed  from 
the  chapel,  flew  to  his  lodge  for  his  weapons,  and  returned 
just  in  season  to  see  the  priest  shot  down  by  the  muskets 
and  hacked  to  pieces  by  the  knives  of  his  relentless  foes. 
He  had  discharged  his  gun  several  times,  and  once  or 
twice  had  done  execution.  But  now  he  grew  more  furious 
than  ever,  and  terribly  did  his  swarthy  features  glow  with 
added  fierceness  and  revengeful  hate  ;  for  he  now  caught 
sight  of  three  noted  warriors  of  the  Mohawk  tribe  fight- 
ing in  the  ranks  of  the  English  and  against  himself  and 
brethren.  In  an  instant  all  fear  of  death  vanished  from 
his  breast,  and  one  feeling  alone  possessed  it  —  a  burning 
desire  for  vengeance.  If  his  own  brethren  in  blood  had 
turned  traitors  to  their  country  and  to  the  soil  which 
imbosomed  the  sacred  dust  of  their  fathers,  and  joined  the 
ranks  of  their  hated  usurpers,  then  blood  alone  could  atone 
for  so  foul  a  disgrace,  and  the  lives  of  the  betrayers  should 
pay  the  forfeit  at  his  hands. 

With  the  agility  of  the  mountain  cat  he  darted  through 
the  English  ranks ;  and  ere  his  foe  could  escape  or  ward 
off  the  blow,  he  had  buried  his  long  knife  to  the  haft  in 
his  heart.  Quick  as  thought  he  turned  upon  another  Mo- 
hawk, and  disabled  him  by  a  deep  and  fatal  cut  in  the 
breast ;  and  leaping  from  the  crowd  of  combatants,  shot 
out  from  under  a  dozen  bayonets,  knives,  and  tomahawks 
aimed  at  his  head,  and  bounded  off  unharmed. 

But  the  third  and  only  remaining  Mohawk  in  mad  pur- 
suit was  now  upon  his  track,  and  at  every  bound  gained 
fast  upon  his  more  exhausted  foe,  who  had  shaped  hia 
course  for  the  adjacent  forest. 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  97 

Mogg  Hegon  had  reached  the  edge  of  the  woods  when, 
throwing  a  glance  behind  him,  he  saw  his  one  avenging 
pursuer  close  in  his  rear,  and  instantly  halted  and  faced 
his  determined  adversary.  Neither  was  in  the  least 
daunted,  but  stood  for  a  moment  darting  mutual  glances 
of  intense  and  deadly  hate  ere  they  closed  for  the  final 
struggle.  Both  aimed  and  struck  a  powerful  blow  at  the 
same  instant,  and  were  each  wounded  in  the  arm.  Mogg 
Hegon  was  the  first  to  strike  the  second  blow,  which  the 
Mohawk  warded  off  by  a  dexterous  motion  of  his  muscu- 
lar arm,  and  at  the  same  time  cut  the  breast  of  Mogg  to 
the  bone.  As  he  inflicted  the  dreadful  wound  he  bounded 
back  a  few  paces,  and  they  again  exchanged  fiery  glances 
of  such  livid  hate  as  an  Indian  only  can  give. 

Then  the  eyes  of  Mogg  Hegon  fell  upon  the  frightful 
gash  from  whose  yawning  depths  the  blood  was  rushing 
in  red  torrents  ;  and  the  sight  seemed  to  add  tenfold  fury 
to  his  already  boiling  rage.  With  a  terrific  yell  he 
bounded  upon  the  Mohawk,  who  again  fended  the  blow 
and  again  stabbed  him  in  the  shoulder. 

At  the  next  blow  Mogg's  knife  pierced  the  side  of  his 
foe,  and,  striking  one  of  his  ribs,  tore  the  flesh  nearly  to 
his  back.  Both  were  now  weak  and  staggering  from  the 
loss  of  blood,  but  without  pause  or  rest  continued  the 
bloody  combat.  Another  plunge  and  the  cords  of  the 
Mohawk's  arm  were  severed,  and  by  the  succeeding  stroke 
his  face  laid  open  from  his  eye  to  his  chin.  But  his  own 
knife  was  quivering  in  the  heart  of  Mogg  Hegon,  and  the 
mighty  chief  of  the  Norridgewocks  fell  dead  at  his  feet. 

In  the  midst  of  these  personal  encounters,  and  in  the 
general  strife  of  exterminating  slaughter,  the  voices  of 
two  of  the  doomed  savages  were  heard  above  the  awful 
din  of  the  battle  exclaiming,  "  Let  us  slay  our  captives 
before  we  ourselves  fall ! ;;  at  the  same  time  bounding  off, 
one  in  the  direction  of  the  lodge  in  which  was  Mrs.  Lee, 
9 


98  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

and  the  other  towards  the  church  where  Rozella  was  con- 
fined. Vaughan  and  Squire  Langdell  gave  chase  to  the 
former,  and  cut  him  down  ere  he  could  accomplish  his 
murderous  purpose  against  Mrs.  Lee,  whom  they  saved 
and  recaptured.  Britton  Waldron  followed  with  eagle 
speed  upon  the  track  of  the  other,  who,  as  he  reached  and 
entered  the  church,  plunged  at  once  down  the  dark  pas- 
sage leading  to  the  cell  of  torture,  thereby  gaining  some- 
what upon  Waldron,  who  was  obliged  to  advance  more 
cautiously  through  its  intricate  windings.  As  he  groped 
along  the  unknown  way  he  heard  an  awful  shriek  at  the 
end  of  the  passage,  and,  springing  forward,  reached  the 
cell  just  in  time  to  see  an  Indian  fall  to  the  floor.  Beside 
the  fallen  savage  stood  a  woman  and  a  little  Indian  girl. 
He  sprang  upon  the  Indian  just  as  he  was  rising  to  his 
feet  and  buried  his  tomahawk  deep  in  his  brain,  and  then 
wheeled  in  fury  and  aimed  a  blow  at  the  Indian  girl. 
The  blow  was  in  swift  descent  upon  the  head"  of  the  little 
squaw  when  the  woman  sprang  towards  him,  her  chains 
rattling  and  her  fetters  clanking  as  she  did  so,  caught  his 
arm,  and  in  a  piercing  voice  exclaimed, — 

"  Hold  —  hold,  my  Britton !  " 

Waldron  staggered  back  and  gazed  upon  her  in  delight- 
ed astonishment ;  for  so  much  was  she  altered  in  appear- 
ance that  he  had  not  hitherto  recognized  Rozella. 

"Spare  this  little  angel, — this  more  than  dove  with  the 
leaf,  —  for  she  has  saved  my  life.  The  tomahawk  of  the 
redskin  you  have  just  slain  was  in  full  descent  upon  my 
defenceless  head,  when,  bounding  like  an  arrow  from  the 
bow  from  the  steps  yonder,  she  came  with  full  force  upon 
him  and  laid  him  prostrate.  She  seemed  as  she  flew  in 
like  Noah's  dove,  for  she,  too,  held  a  leaf  in  her  mouth. 
Ah,  I  see  it  all  now,"  continued  Rozella,  approaching 
nearer  to  the  little  girl,  who  still  retained  the  leaf,  "  it  is 
the  same  pictured  leaf  I  gave  her  on  the  morning  I  first 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  99 

entered  the  church  ;  and  now,  for  so  slight  and  simple  an 
act  of  kindness,  she  has  saved  my  life." 

And  as  she  thus  spoke  Rozella  caught  the  girl  in  her 
arms  and  pressed  her  closely  to  her  breast,  kissing  and 
caressing  her  fondly,  while  Waldron  was  striking  off  the 
fetters  which  confined  her  feet. 

"  What  is  the  name  of  my  little  dove  ?  "  inquired  Rozel- 
la  in  the  Indian  language,  a  few  words  of  which  she  had 
acquired  since  her  captivity. 

"  Owega,"  replied  the  girl. 

"  Owega  shall  never  leave  me,"  cried  Rozella,  warmly ; 
"  and  yet  I  would  not  take  you  hence  by  force  as  I  was 
brought  from  home." 

"  Owega  has  no  home,"  was  the  girl's  response. 

"  Then  you  will  go  with  me,  my  wild  bird  ? "  asked 
Rozella. 

"  Owega  will  go  with  the  White  Pigeon,"  was  the  soft 
reply ;  and  as  these  words  were  uttered  the  last  link  of 
the  galling  chain  was  snapped  asunder,  and  the  three 
walked  joyously  forth  together. 

As  they  came  up  from  the  dismal  den  in  which  Rozella 
had  been  so  long  imprisoned,  and  where  she  had  suffered 
such  barbarous  treatment  from  her  inhuman  persecutors, 
her  hpart  swelled  with  inexpressible  emotion,  and,  falling 
upon  her  knees,  she  offered  up  the  gushing  gratitude  of 
her  heart  for  her  safe  deliverance  in  fervent  and  audible 
prayer.  As  she  rose  she  saw  her  father  rushing  towards 
her  with  outstretched  arms,  into  which  she  flew,  while 
tears  of  joy  streamed  from  the  eyes  of  both  father  and 
daughter. 

"  Thanks  be  to  God  !  "  uttered  the  squire,  in  a  tone  of 
deep  feeling  ;  "  my  lamb  is  safe.  0,  how  my  heart  swells 
with  overwhelming  gratitude  for  her  deliverance  and  res- 
toration who  is  the  one  bright  star  of  my  dark  pathway 
of  life  and  the  comfort  and  solace  of  my  declining  years  ! 


100  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

The  noble-hearted  Waldron,"  continued  the  squire,  turn- 
ing to  Waldron,  who  still  retained  the  hand  of  Rozella  in 
his  own,  "  who  has  saved  your  life,  is  worthy  of  the  hand 
he  has  so  bravely  won." 

"  Dear  father,"  replied  Eozella,  "  my  feelings  of  heart- 
felt joy  that  I  have  been  spared  to  you  are  far  beyond  my 
power  to  express,  and,"  she  continued,  with  a  speaking 
look  at  Waldron,  "  I  can  never  adequately  repay  my  brave 
deliverer  for  all  he  has  dared  and  suffered  in  my  behalf ; 
but  here,"  she  pursued,  drawing  Owega  forward,  "  is  the 
little  dove,  with  the  leaf  still  in  her  mouth,  to  whom  I  owe 
my  life  ;  for  it  was  she  who  saved  it.  Here,  upon  these 
steps,  I  gave  her  the  leaf ;  and  she  clung  to  me  and  offered 
a  prayer  for  the  safety  of  the  White  Pigeon.  And  when 
the  fatal  axe  was  descending  upon  my  head  in  the  dark 
cell  beneath  us,  it  was  she  who  averted  the  impending 
blow,  by  dashing  the  savage  assailant  to  the  ground.  I 
acknowledge  she  was  but  the  means  of  my  deliverance ; 
but  as  the  great  Power  to  whom  I  looked  for  aid  and  suc- 
cor chose  her  as  the  swift-winged  angel  to  execute  his  will, 
so  I  have  chosen  her  for  my  companion  and  friend,  and 
whom,  with  your  leave,  dear  father,  I  will  take  to  our 
happy  home." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  squire,  "  she  shall  go  with  us 
if  she  wishes;"  and  he  planted  a  kiss  upon  Owega's 
cheek  as  she  stood,  "  smiling  tearfully,"  with  her  hand 
clasped  in  that  of  Rozella  and  the  maple  leaf  still  be- 
tween her  lips. 

Owega,  assured  by  the  kind  looks  of  all  around  her  and 
feeling  more  at  ease,  now  drew  a  little  parchment  of  eel- 
skin  from  beneath  the  little  thin  blanket  which  but  par- 
tially concealed  her  lithe  and  elegant  form,  and,  deposit- 
ing the  leaf  in  its  folds,  again  fastened  it  with  a  hedge 
thorn  to  the  inside  of  the  blanket.  She  then,  in  her  own 
tongue,  and  looking  alternately  at  Rozella  and  Waldron, 
said, — 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  101 

"  White  Pigeon  saved  Owega  from  tomahawk." 

Britton  comprehended  her  meaning  by  the  expressive 
glance  she  gave  him  quite  as  well  as  though  he  had  under- 
stood her  words ;  and  his  eyes  dropped  before  her  stern 
look,  and  his  face  became  red  as  flame  ;  but  as  he  reflected 
that  his  intended  act  resulted  from  supposing  her  an  ene- 
my instead  of  a  friend,  and  that  happily,  by  the  timely 
interference  of  Kozella,  she  was  still  alive,  he  composed 
his  features,  and  was  just  raising  his  eyes,  when  the  alarm 
of  fire  was  heard,  and  dense  volumes  of  fire  and  smoke 
rolled  out  from  the  rear  of  the  church,  on  whose  steps  they 
were  now  standing. 

As  they  left  the  now  fast  consuming  church,  Yaughan 
came  up  with  Mrs.  Lee,  and  hearty  congratulations  were 
exchanged ;  and,  proceeding  onward,  they  met  a  detach- 
ment of  soldiers  from  Cocheco,  with  an  English  sailor, 
named  Phantom  Marine,  whom  they  had  found  confined  in 
one  of  the  lodges,  and  also  a  bright  lad  of  some  sixteen 
summers,  who  had  acted  as  servant  to  the  priest. 

The  soldiers  under  Moulton  and  Harmon  now  brought 
forward  the  flagstaff  once  raised  over  the  church,  with  the 
flag  attached,  and,  uprooting  the  cross  in  front  of  the 
chapel,  threw  the  whole  into  the  burning  edifice,  that  no 
vestige  or  relic  of  what  they  considered  Jesuitical  priest- 
craft and  Popish  idolatry  should  be  left  undestroyed. 
What  few  Indians  had  not  been  killed  had  made  their 
escape  into  the  surrounding  wilderness ;  and  after  destroy- 
ing the  remaining  wigwams  the  English  turned  their  backs 
upon  the  ruined  village  of  Norridgewock,  with  its  smok- 
ing church  and  lodges  and  ghastly  heaps  of  the  unburied 
slain. 

The  companies  of  Moulton  and   Harmon  returned  to 
their  homes  in  the  settlement  near  and  upon  the  sea  shore 
of  Maine,  which  they  reached   in   safety,  receiving   the 
thanks  and  commendations  of  the  eutire  community. 
9* 


102  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

The  little  band  of  Cocheco,  on  the  second  night  of  their 
homeward  course,  reached  the  shore  of  the  glorious  old 
Sebago,  whose  glistening  face  seemed  to  beam  upon  them 
in  a  smile  of  welcome  and  congratulation.  They  halted 
and  struck  a  fire  in  the  same  ashes  and  with  the  same 
brands  left  by  the  Indians  in  their  homeward  march  with 
their  captives.  Coffin,  who  was  of  the  number  who  had 
made  their  escape  from  their  captors  at  this  place,  now 
related  the  story  of  the  wonderful  lights  in  the  heavens, 
the  terrible  panic  of  the  savages,  and  their  own  fortunate 
escape.  As  the  conversation  became  animated,  and  mirth 
and  merriment  began  to  abound,  Rozella,  for  the  first  time 
since  they  had  started  for  home,  laughed  aloud  as  she  ran 
to  the  edge  of  the  woods  and  drew  the  attention  of  all  by 
her  recital. 

"  Here,"  said  she,  "  is  the  very  spot  where  I  sighed  for 
freedom,  and  while  singing  aloud  the  inspiring  words, 
'  Sweet,  sweet  liberty ! ;  fell  plump  into  the  encircling 
arms  of  Old  Bloody  Bones.  0  horror !  I  can  hardly 
laugh  when  I  think  to  what  awful  depths  of  depression 
my  heart  sank  as  I  felt  his  cold  arms  coiling  around  me 
and  holding  me  in  their  snaky  folds  like  the  deadly  em- 
brace of  some  monstrous  serpent ;  and  even  now  I  shud 
der  as  I  recall  it." 


CHAPTER    X. 


Rozella's  Return  and  Interview  with  Elsie  Tufton.  —  Elsie  Tuf- 
ton's  Recovery  and  Rozella's  Christlin  Admonition. 


11  Who  art  thou  ? "  said  a  wild  yet  feeble  voice,  as  a 
lady  of  quiet  and  gentle  manners  and  demeanor  entered 
the  apartment,  but  whom  the  inquirer  evidently  supposed 
to  be  some  dangerous  intruder.  Then,  with  lustreless  and 
glassy  eyes,  with  a  pale  and  deathlike  countenance,  and 
hair  standing  out  in  all  directions,  she  continued,  "  Fve 
seen  her  somewhere.  It  seems  to  me  her  name  is  May 
day  ;  she  looks  like  one.  Ha !  ha  !  Flying  Clouds,  and 
May  poles,  and  greased  pigs !  Ha !  ha !  0  the  fish  I 
caught  in  Charles  Cutts's  golden  net !  Here  they  are,  in 
my  hair." 

"  Dear  Elsie ! "  softly  exclaimed  the  visitor. 

"  Elsie ! "  interrupted  the  other  ;  "  it  seems  to  me  I  have 
heard  that  name  before.  "0!"she  wildly  shrieked,  "I 
know  her  now  !  She  is  the  one  I  saw  snatch  the  Indian's 
gleaming  steel  and  bury  it  deep  in  the  heart  of  Weseme, 
the  handsome  crossbreed.  0,  it  made  my  blood  run  cold 
as  she  struck  the  blow !  How  could  she  do  a  deed  so  ter- 
rible ?  I  would  not  have  done  it  for  worlds.  But  they 
say  he  had  killed  her  sweetheart,  and  was  wearing  his 
scalp  in  his  belt.  Ha !  ha  !  Then  I  don't  blame  her,  if 
she  loved  him  as  much  as  I  do  Charles.  Why  don't  he 
come?" 

fl03) 


104  LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA. 

"  Elsie,"  continued  the  visitor,  "  is  your  own  name  ;  and 
I  am  your  true  friend,  Rozella  Langdell." 

"  0,  yes,"  replied  Elsie  ;  "  I  have  heard  that  name  ;  the 
kind  Rozella  Langdell  they  used  to  call  her  ;  and  some 
Raid  she  was  Queen  of  the  Forest." 

"  I  am  she,"  responded  Rozella,  "  and  have  come  to  see 
you  and  to  restore  you  to  health." 

"But  where  is  Elsie?"  asked  the  other.  "I  do  not 
see  her." 

"  It  is  yourself  who  is  Elsie,"  answered  Rozella. 

"  Me  ! "  exclaimed  Elsie.  "  I  killed  the  handsome  cross- 
breed ?    Ha !  ha !  " 

"  Now,  dear  Elsie,"  said  Rozella,  "  will  you  promise  to 
be  calm  while  I  lay  the  whole  matter  before  you  and  ex- 
plain how  every  thing  occurred  ?  "  • 

"  Yes,"  was  her  reply,  "  when  Charles  comes  for  his 
golden  fish  net." 

During  the  absence  of  Rozella  at  Norridgewock  Elsie 
Tufton  had  been  removed  from  Heard's  garrison,  at  Co- 
checo,  where  we  left  her  at  the  time  of  the  awful  mas- 
sacre, to  the  house  of  her  father.  The  violent  fever  with 
which  she  had  suffered  so  severely  had  run  its  course  ;  but 
her  reason  was  not  yet  restored.  She  had  been  carefully 
nursed  and  attentively  watched  by  the  whole  family,  and 
no  means  at  their  command  left  untried  to  restore  her 
again  to  health  of  body  and  soundness  of  mind.  She  had 
been  unsparingly  dosed  with  decoctions  of  all  the  roots, 
and  herbs,  and  barks  which  the  settlement  or  the  woods 
afforded,  and,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  had  lived  in  spite 
of  all.  It  was  now  a  week  since  her  fever  left  her  ;  and 
her  mental  derangement  seemed  to  increase  as  her  strength 
slowly  returned. 

On  the  morning  when  Rozella  entered  the  chamber  of 
her  sick  friend  she  found  Mr.  Tufton  standing  by  her  bed 
on  one  side  and  another  man  on  the  other  —  the  utmost 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  105 

strength  of  both  being  necessary  to  confine  her  to  its 
narrow  limits. 

After  the  conversation  had  reached  the  point  to  which 
we  traced  it,  Rozella  called  for  a  comb,  with  an  abundance 
of  cold  water  and  a  requisite  quantity  of  towels,  and  then 
requested  of  the  family  to  be  left  alone  with  the  patient. 
To  this  they  consented,  but  on  condition  that  they  should 
remain  near  at  hand,  so  as  to  be  able  to  fly  to  her  assist- 
ance should  the  patient  become  unmanageable  or  attempt 
in  her  frenzy  to  injure  herself  or  her  friend. 

"  Now,"  said  Rozella,  after  all  had  retired,  "  you  must 
allow  me,  before  I  relate  to  you  the  story  of  the  handsome 
crossbreed,  to  thoroughly  wash  your  head  and  comb  and 
dress  your  hair." 

"  No,"  cried  Elsie,  as  she  sprang  to  the  farther  side  of 
the  bed ;  "  it  is  full  of  fish,  and  you  shall  not  touch  them." 

"  Let  me  see  if  there  are  any,"  said  Rozella. 

After  much  coaxing,  she  gained  permission  to  make  an 
examination  ;  after  which  she  exclaimed,  "  Not  a  single  one 
in  your  hair  ;  and  if  there  ever  were  any,  they  have  left. 
Now,  hold  your  head  over  the  bedside,  and  allow  me  to 
cleanse  it  with  the  cool  water." 

"No,"  said  Elsie  ;  "  they  will  swim  off." 

11  Let  them  swim,  then,"  said  Rozella  ;  "  that  is  the  very 
thing  I  want." 

Elsie  now  consented,  and  after  her  head,  and  face,  and 
finally  her  entire  person,  had  been  washed  and  rubbed 
quite  dry,  and  her  matted  hair  combed  and  arranged,  the 
effect  produced  was  such  that,  what  with  the  action  of  the 
comb  and  the  friction  of  the  towel,  which  excited  a  gentle 
perspiration,  her  extreme  nervous  irritability  was  much 
allayed. 

"  Now,"  asked  Rozella,  "  what  does  my  dear  Elsie  think 
about  the  fish?" 

"  I  think  you  have  drowned  them  out,"  replied  Elsie ; 


106  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

"for  I  don't  feel  them  now,  nor  hear  their  singing  in  my 
ears.  The  pressure,  too,  is  removed  from  my  head  ;  and 
I  think  it  is  low  tide  in  my  brain  now." 

"  There  never  have  been  any  fish  in  your  hair,"  said 
Rozella. 

"  Why,"  said  Elsie,  "  did  I  not  feel  and  see  them?  and 
were  they  not  pink  fish  ?  and  did  I  not  see  their  blood 
run  ?    If  there  were  none,  what  made  me  think  so  ?  " 

"  You  have  come  to  the  point,  at  last,"  said  Rozella ; 
''  and  I  will  now  relate  the  promised  story  of  Wcseme,  the 
handsome  crossbreed,  which  you  must  know,  in  order  that 
the 'whole  matter  should  be  made  plain  to  your  compre- 
hension. Then,  with  a  firm  faith  and  confiding  trust  in 
Him  who  is  able  to  save  and  heal  you,  you  will  be  well 
again." 

"And  who  are  you,"  asked  Elsie,  "  that  you  think  to 
lieal  the  sick,  raise  the  dead,  cast  out  devils,  rob  me  of  my 
May  crown  at  Merry  Meeting,  kill  the  handsome  cross- 
breed, and  —  and — Charles  is  yet  alive;  he  looked  in 
here  last  night  and  said  so  —  he  did." 

"  My  dear  Elsie,"  said  Rozella,  "  you  have  a  confused 
recollection  of  the  whole  affair  ;  but  you  fear  to  meet  the 
dreadful  reality  face  to  face,  and  so  rise  above  it.  Do 
you  not  remember  the  evening  you  rolled  up  Charles's 
hair  in  the  pink  papers  for  the  boat  ride,  and  how  you 
joked  him  about  frightening  the  fish  out  of  the  river  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know  but  it  was  so,"  replied  Elsie. 

"  And,"  continued  Rozella,  "  after  you  retired  to  rest, 
did  you  not  think  and  dream  of  the  same  thing  until  the 
Indians  awoke  you?  " 

"  Perhaps  it  was  so,"  again  replied  Elsie.  "  But  Charles 
is  alive ;  I  know  he  is ;  and  that  maiden  that  killed  the 
crossbreed  is  a  murderer." 

Proceeding  in  this  way,  step  by  step,  did  Rozella  pre- 
pare Elsie's  mind  for  each  succeeding  event  in  the  whole 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  107 

bloody  drama,  until  she  became  more  calm  and  composed, 
and  seemed  to  gain  strength  to  meet  and  realize  the  truth, 
sad  and  stern  as  it  was,  without  flinching. 

Rozella  sat  by  her  bedside  during  the  night,  and  bathed 
her  temples,  wiped  away  her  tears,  and  soothed  her 
troubled  spirit ;  and  towards  morning  she  fell  into  a  deep 
and  quiet  slumber,  from  which  she  awoke  much  refreshed. 
Her  first  words  to  Rozella  were,  "  Is  what  you  have  told 
me  true,  or  only  a  dream  ?  " 

"  It  is  but  too  true,"  answered  Rozella,  "  in  every  par- 
ticular." 

"Then,"  replied  Elsie,  "nothing  is  left  for  me  but  to 
die  ;  for  I  cannot  endure  the  crushing  weight  of  this  awful 
calamity." 

"  No,"  said  Rozella  ;  "  unaided  and  alone  you  cannot ; 
therefore,  in  the  words  of  the  good  book,  '  Cast  thy  burden 
on  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  sustain  thee,  and  strengthen 
thee,  and  comfort  thee.; " 

"  0,"  cried  Elsie,  "  will  he  hear  my  humble  cries  ?  " 

"  He  will,"  responded  Rozella ;  "  for  he  heard  mine,  when 
my  case  seemed  far  more  desperate  for  the  body  than  is 
yours  for  the  mind.  You  must,  like  me,  with  the  strong 
hooks  of  faith  grapple  upon  his  promises  with  a  determina- 
tion as  strong  as  death  itself,  and,  like  wrestling  Jacob,  cry 
aloud,  y  I  will  not  let  thee  go  until  thou  bless  me.'  He 
never  did,  and  he  never  will,  turn  a  determined  soul  empty 
away." 

But,  not  to  weary  the  reader  with  further  particulars, 
suffice  it  to  say  that  all  her  trials  and  sufferings,  her  doubts 
and  shrinkings,  and  her  griefs  and  sorrow  were  finally 
vanquished ;  she  triumphed  over  the  weakness  of  the  flesh 
and  the  power  of  the  insane  devil  that  had  raged  within 
her  fevered  brain ;  and  in  one  week  from  the  time  Rozella 
first  visited  the  sick  chamber  of  her  dear  friend,  Elsie 
Tufton  was  "clothed,  and  in  her  right  mind." 


CHAPTER    XI. 


Meeting  of  Mas.  Langdell  with  the  returned  Captives  and  Friends. 
—  Phantom  Marine  and  the  Ghost  at  Buck's  Horn  Inn. 


Happy  was  the  meeting  at  Squire  Langdell's  on  the 
morning  the  little  band  of  warriors  of  Cocheco  returned 
home  to  their  loved  Laconia  from  the  bloody  slaughter 
of  Norridgewock.  Mrs.  Langdell  had  reached  her  home 
but  the  evening  previous,  from  Boston,  whither  she  had 
been  on  a  visit  to  her  brother.  And  although  the  meeting 
between  Rozella  and  her  mother  was  joyful  and  transport- 
ing, yet  sad  was  that  mother's  heart  when  she  found  to 
what  terrible  sufferings  and  perils  her  beloved  daughter 
had  been  so  cruelly  subjected. 

Mrs.  Lee  was  domiciled  in  the  house  of  a  relation  in  the 
settlement  ;  the  little  Owega  had  found  a  home  much  to 
her  liking  at  Squire  Langdell's  ;  and  Phantom  Marine, 
the  English  sailor  whom  they  had  liberated  at  Norridge- 
wock, had  taken  a  berth  at  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn. 

The  Buck's  Horn  Inn  was  a  singular -looking  house,  and 
the  only  house  of  entertainment  kept  in  this  section  of 
Laconia.  It  was  a  story  and  a  half  high  in  the  centre 
and  one  story  at  the  eaves ;  that  is  to  say,  its  roof  ran 
about  half  the  width  of  the  house,  then  it  fell  half  a  story, 
and  another  roof  covered  the  remainder. 

It  had  little  bow  windows  and  bow  doors,  and  was  fur- 
nished with  odd-looking  furniture,  consisting  principally 

(108) 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  109 

of  board  settees,  wood  boxes,  and  bootjacks.  In  the  prin- 
cipal room  stood  a  tall  brass  clock,  with  its  head  hard 
against  the  ceiling,  with  a  crescent  moon  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  dial  and  above  its  face. 

This  venerable  timepiece,  at  every  swing  of  the  pen- 
dulum, wheezed  and  groaned  in  a  nasal  tone  :  and  in  the 
nighttime,  when  the  house  was  still,  its  performances  in 
the  vocal  line  could  be  compared  to  nothing  earthly,  and 
seemed  more  like  the  discordant  rehearsal  of  a  choir  of 
asthmatic  ghosts  and  goblins. 

The  other  rooms  were  hung  around  with  strange  pic- 
tures and  portraits  of  old  dukes  and  barons,  the  originals 
of  which  had  either  been  hanged  themselves,  or  instru- 
mental in  performing  that  service  for  others. 

Upon  the  mantel  pieces  stood  the  images  of  saints  and 
sailors,  thin-ribbed  horses  and  gaunt  hounds. 

Phantom  Marine  was  as  odd  a  specimen  of  the  jolly,  no, 
jaded,  tar  as  ever  rode  the  sea  under  the  broad  trident  of 
old  Neptune.  On  their  passage,  as  he  termed  it,  from  Nor- 
ridgewock,  he  had  "  played  the  agreeable  "  with  Rozella, 
whose  delight  at  his  marvellous  stories  only  served  to 
make  him  lie  faster  than  ever,  to  the  great  scandal  of  the 
more  staid  and  sober  minded.  Among  other  matters  he 
confessed  to  her  that  the  thing  of  which  he  stood  most  in 
dread  was  his  own  shadow,  which  annoyed  him  wherever 
he  went. 

He  had  spent  years,  he  said,  in  studying  how  to  get 
rid  of  it,  but  had  not  yet  succeeded.  He  had  travelled 
both  by  sea  and  by  land,  in  hopes  that  he  should  lose  it, 
and  had  journeyed  far  and  near  in  search  of  some  happy 
land  where  a  man  would  not  be  everlastingly  dogged 
about  by  a  ghostly  shadow.  He  had,  also,  queer  notions 
of  the  powers  of  the  vital  principle ;  and  was  afraid  to  eat 
meat,  for  fear  that  the  animal  would  come  to  life  again, 
and,  resenting  the  indignity,  devour  him  in  return.  Nei- 
10 


110  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

ther  would  he  go  to  a  well,  for  fear  that  the  earth  would 
cave  in,  and  he  thereby  be  unable  to  navigate  his  craft  to 
shore. 

When  he  arrived  at  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn,  which  had  a 
large  pair  of  spreading  antlers  painted  upon  the  sign,  he 
stood  and  gazed  at  it  until  the  landlord,  who  was  a  little 
fat  Dutchman,  came  out  and  asked,  "  Vat  ter  tuyfel  you 
look  at  te  sign  for  so  long  ?  " 

"  Suspicious,  very  suspicious,"  replied  Phantom. 

"  Yat,  did  ye  never  see  a  puck's  'orn  pefore  ?  "  asked 
the  Dutchman. 

"Devil's  horn,  more  like,  I  should  think,"  responded 
Marine.  "  Do  such  animals  live  in  these  latitudes  ? " 
asked  he. 

"  It  pe  no  animal,"  replied  the  landlord  ;  "  it  pe  only  de 
'orn  of  de  puck." 

"  Suspicious,"  was  the  only  remark  of  the  sailor ;  and 
approaching  the  house  with  the  landlord,  he  remarked, 
"  Squire  Langdell  sent  me  here  to  take  a  berth  and  get 
my  grog  and  rations,  till  I  come  to  anchor  on  a  spot  of  my 
own,  and  become  a  regular  land  lubber." 

"  Yalk  in,  den,"  said  the  host ;  and,  entering  the  bar 
room,  Phantom  was  invited  to  sit  down,  which  he  did  after 
a  minute  examination  and  thorough  trial  of  what  he 
called  "  the  keel  and  bottom  "  of  the  proffered  chair.  He 
then  took  off  his  pack,  but  kept  it  on  his  knees  ;  for  he  saw 
so  many  "  strange  craft "  and  "  queer-rigged  vessels  "  about 
him  that  he  was  suspicious  that  he  had  fallen  in  with  a 
crew  of  "  bloody  pirates,"  by  whom  he  was  liable  to  be 
made  "  to  walk  the  plank  "  at  any  moment. 

But  Phantom  Marine,  by  the  aid  of  a  stiff  glass  of  grog, 
which,  as  he  said,  was  "  the  only  blamed  thing  he  had  yet 
seen  that  did  not  look  suspicious,"  finally  managed  to  raise 
his  courage  so  much  as  to  consider  himself  in  very  good 
quarters  ;   and  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  additional 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  Ill 

rations  of  grog  so  enlarged  his  views  and  opened  his  heart 
that  he  saw  every  thing  double,  sung  a  dozen  sea  songs, 
told  innumerable  "  yarns,"  and  wound  up  by  calling  for 
his  berth. 

"  He  pe  one  tuyfelish  vine  vellow,"  said  the  Dutchman 
to  the  crowd  of  idlers  who  had  been  entertained  freely  at 
the  sailor's  expense ;  "  and  ash  ter  pe  no  vimmen  peoples 
come  here  tish  night,  he  will  have  te  pest  room  in  te 
house." 

As  they  passed  up  the  stairs  leading  to  the  "pest  room," 
at  the  head  of  the  flight  Phantom  broke  out,  "  Blast  my 
eyes,  but  this  is  the  first  time  in  all  my  voyages  that  I  ever 
went  aloft  to  swing  my  hammock,  and  it  looks  —  hie  —  a 
little  —  hie  —  suspicious." 

As  Marine's  eyes  fell  upon  one  of  the  pictures  with 
which  the  room  was  adorned,  he  stopped  suddenly  and 
looked  extremely  suspicious. 

"  Yat  you  zee  ? "  said  the  landlord  ;  "  anoder  puck's 
'orn?" 

"  I  see  some  eyes  there,"  said  the  sailor,  "  that  I  don't 
like.  They  look  too  much  like  a  pair  I  once  saw  pop  out 
from  under  a  big  wave  in  a  squall  at  sea." 

"He  te  same  vons,"  answered  the  host;  "he  veil  ofer- 
poard  at  zee  and  trown  himzelf,  ant  hish  vrouw  leaf  him 
here  ash  zhe  bass  droo  to  Numper  Vour  on  te  Connet- 
tigut." 

Phantom  now  began  to  tremble,  and  begged  the  land- 
lord to  take  it  from  the  room,  when  a  loud  rap  was  heard 
at  the  outer  door,  and  the  Dutchman,  bawling  out  "More 
new  zettlers,"  ran  from  the  apartment,  closing  the  door  as 
he  went. 

But  the  loud  and  cheerful  voices  of  the  new  comers 
below  soon  dispelled  his  rising  fears,  and  he  turned  into 
bed.  It  was  a  dark  and  windy  night  without ;  so  he  left 
his  candle  burning,  to  enable  him  the  better  to  detect  any 


112  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

suspicious  object  in  his  immediate  latitude  and  longitude ; 
and,  covering  up  his  head,  he  listened  to  the  noisy  laugh- 
ter of  those  below  until  the  sounds  grew  more  and  more 
indistinct  and  his  senses  were  finally  locked  fast  in  the 
chains  of  sleep. 

How  long  he  slept  he  could  not  tell ;  but  he  was  awa- 
kened by  the  bedclothes  being  suddenly  pulled  off  him  by 
an  invisible  hand  ;  for,  as  he  looked,  no  one  was  to  be  seen. 

"  A  ghost,"  said  Phantom,  dolefully.  "  Just  as  I  expect- 
ed ; "  and  his  eyes  glared  at  the  strange  pictures  on  the 
walls,  and  his  teeth  chattered  from  fright  and  fear.  The 
candle  had  burned  low,  and  a  dim,  dancing  blaze  flickered 
from  the  wick.  The  clock  in  the  lower  room  groaned  and 
wheezed  worse  than  ever,  and  in  its  clashing  sounds  and 
brass  ring  Phantom  heard  but  the  agonizing  groans  of  the 
dying,  as  their  infernal  murderers  mashed  up  the  heads 
of  their  victims  ;  for,  at  each  blow,  the  ring  of  the  ghostly 
anvil  vibrated  through  the  room. 

The  dreadful  beast  upon  the  signboard,  with  his  mon- 
strous horns,  was  coming  to  life  again ;  for  he  heard  it 
shrieking,  and  saw  it  bounding  back  and  forth  by  the 
window,  as  it  struggled  to  break  loose  from  its  enclosure 
upon  the  flaming  signboard. 

The  wind  was  still  high,  and  the  old  inn  shook  and 
swayed  before  it.  .  Again  Phantom  Marine  ventured  to 
look  upon  the  mysterious  picture  upon  the  wall.  He  was 
certain  that  it  moved,  and  he  saw  it  wink  an  eye  at  him  ; 
and  he  could  not  be  mistaken  in  this,  for  it  was  full  in  the 
dancing  blaze  of  the  candle,  which  likewise  began  to  act 
strangely.  He  looked  at  the  mantel  piece  ;  and  the  short, 
earthen  alderman  upon  it  was  leering  maliciously  at  him, 
with  a  broad  grin  upon  his  jolly  face,  as  though  he  had 
just  ordered  a  fresh  bowl  of  turtle  soup.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  night  was  cold.  Phantom  Marine  was  covered  with 
a  reeking  perspiration. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  113 

He  looked  at  the  thin-ribbed  horse  and  the  gaunt  hound 
that  stood  above  him,  when  at  that  very  instant  the  hound 
leaped  down  upon  the  horse  and  caught  him  by  the  nose, 
who  kicked  furiously,  and  both  fell  in  the  violent  struggle 
for  the  mastery  to  the  floor. 

"  Murder  !  murder  ! "  shouted  Phantom,  and  bounded 
from  his  bed  for  the  door  which  the  landlord  had  shut  as 
he  passed  out.  But,  horror  of  all  the  horrors  he  had  be- 
fore seen  !  upon  the  inside  of  the  door  —  which,  being 
swung  into  the  room  as  he  entered,  prevented  his  seeing 
it — was  the  image  of  the  veritable  "Ancient  Henry,"  or 
the  "Old  Harry "  himself,  cloven  foot  and  all. 

Phantom's  knees  grew  weak  and  smote  together ;  and 
he  fell  upon  the  floor  still  bawling  "  Murder  !  murder !  "  at 
the  top  of  his  voice.  But  he  felt  that  he  had  no  time  to 
lose  ;  so,  gathering  up  his  strength  with  his  limbs,  he  rushed 
to  the  bow  window,  which  was  fastened  down  ;  and  as  he 
looked  out,  the  sign  with  its  ghastly  head  upon  it  swung 
close  to  his  face.  Again  he  roared  "  Murder !  "  louder 
than  ever,  when  at  that  moment  the  little  Dutchman,  hear- 
ing the  outcry,  mounted  the  stairs  and  opened  the  door, 
and  now  stood  waist  deep  amidst  chairs  and  washstands, 
bowls,  pitchers,  and  basins,  from  the  load  of  the  new  com- 
ers he  had,  and  piled  up  here  to  house  them  from  the 
expected  storm. 

"  Vat  ter  tuyfel  ish  de  matter  here  ?  "  roared  the  Dutch- 
man. 

Phantom  wheeled  around,  and,  seeing  the  open  door, 
sprang  with  all  his  might  to  escape ;  but  so  wild  and  glar- 
ing were  his  eyes  that  the  Dutchman,  supposing  him  stark 
mad,  shut  to  the  door  in  his  face.  .  But  such  was  the  impe- 
tus which  Phantom  had  acquired  in  his  rapid  flight  from 
the  window  that  the  door  was  not  the  least  impediment  to 
his  exit.  He  went  straight  through  the  devil,  door,  and 
Dutchman,  and  alighted  in  the  centre  of  the  stack  of  wash- 
10* 


114  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

stands  and  crockery  ;  and  the  whole  concomitant  rolled 
down  the  entire  length  of  the  stairs  and  brought  up  with 
a  general  crash  at  the  bottom. 

The  "tableau"  was  striking  and  picturesque.  The 
stands  and  chairs  were  groaning  and  creaking,  the  crock- 
ery rattling  and  ringing,  the  little  Dutchman  buried  under 
the  fallen  mass,  and,  with  his  bullet  head  protruding 
through  the  aperture  of  a  washstand,  shouting,  "  Yat  ter 
tuyfel  ish  goming  next?"  while  Phantom  Marine  was 
snugly  seated  in  a  capacious  washbowl  upon  the  top  of  the 
heap,  roaring  "  Murder  ! "  in  a  stentorian  voice. 

The  house  was  now  in  a  complete  uproar  ;  and  ghosts  in 
white  sheets  were  more  plenty  than  ever,  listening  to  the 
dreadful  outcries  beneath  the  avalanche  upon  the  broad 
stair. 

The  larger,  if  not  the  better,  half  of  the  Dutchman  now 
made  her  appearance,  paddling  and  puffing  along  among 
the  medley  of  barking  dogs  and  their  frightened  owners, 
with  her  broad  bosom  rising  and  falling  like  a  huge  bel- 
lows covered  with  red  leather,  and  not  comprehending  the 
meaning  of  the  "  tableau  "  before  her  or  noticing  that  her 
husband  was  under  the  avalanche,  bellowed  "  Get  out ! " 
in  tones  that  made  the  house  jar  and  the  dogs  slink  away 
in  utter  silence. 

"  How  in  the  name  zhall  I  get  out  ? "  responded  the 
Dutchman,  supposing  the  "  vermilion  edict "  just  promul- 
gated to  have  been  levelled  at  his  devoted  head ;  and  his 
spouse,  now  comprehending  the  true  state  of  the  case,  went 
to  work  in  good  earnest,  and  in  a  few  minutes  released  her 
spouse,  who,  followed  by  Phantom  Marine,  took  refuge  in 
the  kitchen.  Both  were  somewhat  bloody  with  wounds 
and  cuts  inflicted  by  the  broken  crockery,  but  fortunately 
no  vital  part  was  seriously  injured. 

The  Dutchman  now  cast  a  terrified  look  at  the  sailor 
and  snarled  out,  — 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  115 

"  Dunder  and  blixen  !  isli  Van  torn  Mazhine  grazy  ?  " 
"  Ghosts,  ghosts,"  replied  the  sailor.  "  I  thought  I  had 
sailed  where  they  were  thick  enough  before  ;  but  I  never 
was  in  a  harbor  where  they  were  so  plenty  as  here,  nor 
entered  a  Dutch  port  with  such  a  cargo  of  furniture  and 
live  stock  upon  my  deck." 

By  this  time  it  was  daylight ;  and  Phantom  Marine, 
calling  for  his  bill  and  bundle  and  paying  for  his  ghostly 
lodgings,  flew  from  the  house,  and,  with  one  wild  glance 
at  the  frightful  signboard,  left  the  haunted  Buck's  Horn 
Inn  of  Laconia. 


CHAPTER   XII 


Social  Meeting  at  the  House  of  Squire  Langdell. —  Story  of  the 
Phantom  Ship  by  Marine. — The  Widow  Lee  full  in  Love  with 
the  Narrator. — First  Appearance  of  the  Man  with  the  twin- 
kle Eye. 


It  was  a  bright  moonlight  evening,  just  three  weeks 
after  the  battle  of  Norridgewock,  when  the  soldiers  and 
their  friends  met  at  Squire  Langdell's  to  exchange  con- 
gratulations upon  the  success  of  their  late  campaign. 
There  had,  to  be  sure,  been  divers  previous  meetings,  but 
of  a  private  and  personal  rather  than  general  character ; 
but  this  evening  nearly  all  in  the  settlement  were  present. 

Rozella  had  been  stopping  with  her  friend  Elsie  Tufton 
until  she  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  be  able  to  leave  her 
own  home,  when  Rozella  had  taken  her  to  the  house  of 
Squire  Langdell,  where  she  still  remained.  Besides  Ro- 
zella and  Elsie  there  were  present  Squire  Langdell  and 
wife,  Britton  Waldron  and  Robert  Vaughan,  Mrs.  Lee  and 
Owega,  George  Coffin  and  Phantom  Marine,  together  with 
a  large  number  of  other  persons  whose  names  we  need  not 
mention. 

All  those  present  understood  the  condition  of  mind  in 
which  Elsie  Tufton  had  been  ;  therefore  all  allusion  in  her 
hearing  to  the  sad  fate  of  Charles  Cutts,  and  even  the 
mention  of  his  name,  was  studiously  avoided. 

(116) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  117 

After  the  general  conversation  had  nearly  subsided 
Coffin  related  his  terrible  struggle  with  Old  Bloody  Bones, 
and  the  death  of  the  inhuman  wretch,  encircled  in  his  own 
arms,  in  the  muddy  bed  of  the  Kennebec.  At  this  narra- 
tion Elsie  laughed  for  the  first  time  during  the  evening, 
and  declared  it  to  be  "  the  first  case  to  her  knowledge  in 
which  an  Indian  was  enclosed  in  a  coffin  before  his  death." 
This  enlivened  the  whole  company,  and  many  amusing 
anecdotes  were  related,  when,  to  cap  the  whole,  Squire 
Langdell  nearly  split  the  sides  of  his  guests  by  relating 
the  awful  encounter  between  Phantom  Marine  and  the 
ghosts  at  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  —  of  his  narrow  but  fortu- 
nate escape  from  their  infernal  grasp,  and  subsequent 
arrival  at  his  house  the  next  morning  in  such  a  fright  that 
he  did  not  get  over  it  for  several  days,  and  of  his  decided 
refusal  to  again  risk  his  life  by  a  return  to  the  haunted 
inn.  "  So,"  continued  the  squire,  "  I  have  kept  him  ever 
since,  and  do  not  know  but  I  shall  be  obliged  to  do  so  for 
the  future." 

"  It  may  be,"  replied  Phantom,  "  that  I  was  more  scared 
than  hurt,  and  deserve  all  your  jokes  ;  but  you  can  never 
convince  me  that  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  is  not  a  haunted 
house,  and  that  there  has  not  been  some  foul  murder  com- 
mitted there.  For  I  profess  to  be  a  pretty  good  judge  in 
these  matters,  having  seen  sights  in  the  heavens  and  upon 
the  ocean  which  put  all  the  fearful  sights  and  sounds  at 
the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  out  of  hailing  distance  forever." 

"  0,"  shouted  the  whole  company,  "  a  ghost  story !  a 
ghost  story !    Let's  have  it  at  once." 

"  Not  to-night,"  replied  the  sailor  ;  "  for  it  makes  me 
faint  and  weak  to  think  of  it." 

"  If  that's  all,"  said  the  squire,  going  to  the  sideboard 
and  taking  out  a  bottle  of  choice  old  Burgundy,  "  here  is 
something  that  will  give  you  a  stout  heart  while  you 
relate  it." 


118  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

THE  FATA  MORGANA. 

"Well,"  replied  Phantom  Marine,  "I  wish  you  all  to 
understand  that  this  is  not  an  imaginary  story,  if  the 
ghosts  at  Buck's  Horn  Inn  are  imaginary ;  for  my  mess- 
mates all  saw  it,  and  in  panic  and  terror  ran  below  to 
escape  it." 

"  Escape  what  ?  "  broke  out  a  new  settler,  with  one  eye 
closed  and  an  impatient  twinkle  in  the  other,  at  the  same 
time  giving  his  chair  a  nervous  hitch  sideways. 

"  Escape  what  is  going  to  happen,"  replied  Phantom,  as 
he  wiped  his  brow  and  took  another  glass  of  Burgundy. 

"  ?Gad,"  said  the  nervous  man,  "  I  believe  we  shall  all 
escape  it ;  for  I  don't  see  as  it  is  likely  to  happen  in  our 
day,  to  say  the  least." 

The  rest  of  the  company  now  grew  impatient  in  their 
turn,  and  requested  the  nervous  man  to  "  give  it  a  chance 
to  happen  ; "  and  finally  silence  prevailed  and  the  sailor 
was  requested  to  "  go  on." 

"Go  on  where ? "  asked  the  sailor. 

"  On  board,"  shouted  all. 

"I  never  go  on  board,"  replied  he,  "with  an  empty 
stomach,  as  you  will  presently  hear." 

Then,  helping  himself  to  another  glass,  he  wiped  his 
mouth,  and,  with  a  deep  sigh,  began  his  story :  — 

"  I  once  was  on  board  an  English  vessel  bound  from 
London  to  Eeggio,  on  the  Straits  of  Messina,  in  Italy. 
She  was  called  the  Sea  Fowl ;  and  a  fine  craft,  too,  she 
was,  —  I  will  always  say  that  for  the  bird,  —  and  rode  the 
water  like  a  duck.  At  that  port  the  captain  exchanged 
our  cargo  for  wines  and  silks,  which  we  were  to  carry  to 
the  wild  coasts  of  America.  Before  I  went  on  board  at 
Reggio,  to  bid  farewell  to  her  lovely  coast,  I  partook 
freely  of  her  sweet  and  exhilarating  wines,  which  are  not 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  119 

wholly  unlike  some  in  the  squire's  sideboard  —  all,  of 
course,  in  honor  to  the  serene  air  and  glorious  sky  in  that 
enchanting  land  we  were  about  to  leave  t>n  our  long  and 
perilous  voyage  ;  and,  in  addition,  had  filled  a  large  jug 
with  the  same  enlivening  beverage,  the  better  to  keep  my 
courage  up  ;  so,  you  see,  what  followed  cannot  be  charged 
to  my  cowardice  this  time,  any  how. 

"  The  evening  after  we  cleared  the  port  was  clear  and 
mild  ;  so,  bringing  my  jug  on  deck  and  placing  it  by  my 
side,  I  stood  leaning  over  the  vessel's  side  and  gazing  into 
the  clear  waters  as  they  reflected  the  beautiful  heavens 
above  them.  I  was  thus  musing  silently  and  in  perfect 
tranquillity,  when  all  at  once  a  vessel  appeared  in  the 
clouds  at  the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  from  our  own 
craft ;  but,  unlike  our  own,  it  sailed  beneath  the  clouds, 
keel  up,  and  with  its  long  and  tapering  masts  pointing 
downward  towards  the  water. 

"She  rode  the  aerial  ocean  as  lightly  as  a  sea  bird,  alter- 
nately rising  and  falling  gracefully  upon  the  cloudy  wave3, 
with  an  occasional  and  almost  imperceptible  lateral  mo- 
tion, as  if  shaking  the  fleecy  spray  from  her  snow-white 
plumage.  Her  masts,  sails,  and  rigging  were  not  unlike 
other  vessels  ;  while  to  her  mizzen  mast  was  attached  one 
banner,  and  to  a  staff  in  front  of  her  boom  another  — 
both  of  the  same  delicate  texture  as  the  cloudy  waters 
through  which  she  so  buoyantly  glided. 

"  Her  decks,  from  stem  to  stern,  were  covered  with  piles 
of  gold,  diamonds,  and  precious  stones  of  every  kind  and 
in  immense  quantities,  from  whose  dazzling  surfaces  flashed 
a  thousand  brilliant  rays  of  every  conceivable  shade  and 
gradation  of  hue  and  color. 

f  She  was  manned  by  as  hale  and  handsome  a  crew  as 
ever  went  on  board  a  craft  since  Neptune  ruled  the  seas, 
and  every  evolution  in  her  management  was  performed 
with  a  celerity  and  adroitness  which  would  have  been  en- 


120  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

vied  by  the  oldest '  salt '  that  ever  rived  a  rope  and  reefed 
a  sail. 

"  Thus  enchantingly  did  she  float  in  the  '  upper  ocean ' 
around  our  vessel :  then  each  shadowy  sailor,  raising  his 
silvery  tarpauling,  with  its  golden  band,  swung  it  around 
his  head.  Thereupon  the  captain  walked  to  the  hatch- 
way, which  opened  of  its  own  accord  at  his  approach,  and 
the  sweetest  music  that  ever  rolled  upon  mortal  ear  gushed 
up  from  the  depths  below,  until  even  the  ship  itself  thrilled 
and  vibrated  with  the  unearthly  strains. 

"  As  she  sailed  past  us  we  saw  her  name  in  diamond 
letters  upon  her  stern.  It  was  the  Celestial.  When 
she  had  rode  around  our  vessel  our  captain  arose  and 
called  for  three  cheers  to  be  given  for  the  Celestial ;  and 
every  man  of  us  cheered  three  times  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 
As  we  ended  the  music  of  the  Celestial  ceased  ;  and  at  the 
next  instant  the  aerial  ship  broke  from  the  vapory  element 
in  which  she  had  been  so  majestically  gliding,  and  fell  to 
the  ocean  by  our  side.  Three  quarters  of  the  distance 
she  fell  with  her  masts  downward  ;  but  at  that  point  she 
turned  like  the  lightning's  flash  completely  over,  and, 
striking  the  water  obliquely,  keel  downwards,  slid  again 
through  the  waves. 

"The  moment  she  reached  the  water  she  changed  from  a 
celestial  ship  to  a  mudscow  of  the  most  repulsive  and  dis- 
gusting appearance.  Our  captain  shouted,  with  stentorian 
voice,  '  She  has  fallen  —  she  has  fallen  ! '  and,  with  all  the 
crew  save  myself,  hurried  down  the  hatchway.  I  also 
started  with  the  others,  but  stumbled  over  Stout  Heart, 
as  I  called  my  jug,  and  I  bethought  me  that  a  hearty 
draught  of  its  contents  would  perhaps  entitle  me  to  that 
appellation  ;  so,  raising  it  to  my  mouth,  I  drank  about  a 
pint.  The  effect  was  magical ;  and  I  now  felt  bold  enough 
to  face  even  the  grim  monster  Death.  Wheeling  about,  I 
gazed  once  more  upon  the  changed  vessel,  and  the  sight 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  121 

which  met  ray  view  was  indeed  appalling.  Her  decks 
were  now  covered  with  loathsome  and  putrid  corpses, 
whose  ileshless  arms  and  eyeless  skulls  were  as  repulsive 
to  the  sight  as  the  overpowering  stench  of  the  decaying 
and  rotten  flesh  was  to  the  smell.  Her  drunken  and 
bloated  crew  were  reeling  to  and  fro  and  wallowing  in 
the  bloody  filth  of  her  polluted  deck,  or  assailing  each 
other  with  horrid  oaths  and  blasphemies  —  each  one,  as, 
with  bloody  dagger,  he  struck  down  his  fellow,  echoing 
the  cry  of  our  captain, '  Fallen  —  fallen  ! ' 

"  A  dense  black  cloud  hung  over  her  blacker  masts  and 
sails,  and  the  red  lightning  leaped  from  its  murky  folds  in 
bolts  of  lurid  flame,  when,  as  I  looked,  the  bows  of  the 
infernal  craft  were  shattered  into  a  thousand  fragments, 
and  the  remainder,  pausing  for  an  instant,  as  if  in  prepara- 
tion for  the  awful  leap,  reeled,  and  then  plunged  and  disap- 
peared in  the  yawning  depths  of  the  ocean.  In  that  mo- 
mentary pause  her  name  —  now  written  in  letters  of  blood 
— again  met  my  eye  ;  and  that,  too,  was  changed,  and,  in- 
stead of  the  former  appellation  of  the  Celestial,  I  now 
saw  the  name  of  Dolly  Plot ! " 

A  piercing  shriek  rang  through  the  room  as  the  sailor 
pronounced  the  last  words  of  his  marvellous  narration, 
who,  as  he  looked  around  upon  his  auditors,  saw  Elsie 
Tufton  lying  senseless  upon  the  floor ;  Rozella,  pale  and 
trembling,  with  her  grappling  irons  (to  use  his  own  words) 
fast  upon  Waldron's  arm  ;  Squire  Langdell,  and  wife,  and 
Vaughan  in  one  group,  wiping  the  perspiration  from  their 
brows,  and  clutching  each  other  in  a  convulsive  grasp  ; 
while  Owega  stood  upon  the  table  as  straight  as  an  arrow, 
going  through  the  Indian  formula  for  exorcising  evil 
spirits. 

He  looked  for  the  nervous  man  with  the  twinkling  eye  ; 
but  he  was  not  in  the  room.  Hearing  a  noise  at  the  win- 
11 


122  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

dow,  he  looked  in  that  direction  ;  and  there  stood  the  new 
settler  outside  the  window,  staring  into  the  room  with  pro- 
truding eyes  and  hair  standing  off  from  his  head  in  all 
directions. 

The  widow  Lee  alone  stood  unmoved  ;  which  she  could 
not  have  done  but  for  the  fact  —  as  subsequently  ascer- 
tained from  her  acknowledgment  —  that  she  had  taken  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  man  than  in  the  story. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  upon  the  sailor,  who  sat,  cool 
and  composed,  with  a  singular  smile  upon  his  face,  appar- 
ently enjoying  the  panic  and  terror  of  his  frightened 
auditors. 

After  Elsie  had  been  restored  to  consciousness  and  a 
reaction  taken  place  in  the  minds  of  the  company,  a  hearty 
laugh  broke  from  all  lips  at  the  scene  which  had  just  trans- 
pired ;  and  Rozella,  addressing  the  sailor,  said,  — 

"  Now  tell  me,  if  you  please,  since  it  seems  you  have 
been  talking  in  riddles  all  the  while,  what  you  meant  by 
your  story  of  travelling  from  one  country  to  another  to 
escape  your  shadow." 

"  It  was  a  dangerous  disease,"  replied  he.  "  of  the  chest, 
which  had  reduced  me  to  a  shadow  ;  and  I  travelled  to 
escape  it." 

"  And  why  would  you  not  eat  meat  ? "  inquired  she. 
"For  fear  the  animal  would  come  to  life  and  devour  you?" 

"  Because,"  returned  he,  "  I  knew  that,  in  my  condition, 
meat  would  create  blood  faster  than  my  debilitated  organs 
could  receive  and  diffuse  it  through  the  system,  which,  of 
course,  would  sink  under  the  load." 

"  And  what  of  the  well,"  continued  she,  "  and-  of  your 
fear  in  going  near  it,  lest  the  earth  should  cave  in  and 
your  bark  not  get  to  shore  again  ?  " 

"  It  was  the  well  of  life,"  was  the  reply,  "  of  which  I 
spoke  ;  and  I  feared  to  have  my  blood  drawn,  because  I 
knew  that  in  that  case  this  earthly  body  would  fall  in  and 
my  bark  never  come  to  shore." 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  123 

"  And  is  there  any  significance  in  your  remaining  on  the 
deck  of  the  Sea  Fowl  when  all  your  messmates  had  fled 
below  ?  "  pursued  Rozella. 

"  Yes/7  replied  he ;  "  but  it  refers  to  the  present  and 
future,  and  is  a  token  and  pledge  that,  as  I  am  now  upon 
the  deck  of  the  good  ship  Laconia,  I  will  never  leave  her 
until  I  see  that  low,  black  mudscow,  Dolly  Plot,  with  all 
her  infernal  crew,  shattered  into  a  thousand  fragments  and 
sunk  forever  in  the  yawning  depths  of  her  own  dark  re- 
flections." 

"  And  how  about  the  ghosts  at  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  ?  n 
inquired  Squire  Langdell,  laughing. 

"  0,  whew !  "  cried  the  sailor  ;  "  to  tell  the  truth,  I  was 
a  little  downhearted  at  leaving  you  and"  —  with  a  sly 
glance  at  the  widow  Lee  —  "your  agreeable  company, 
which  tjie  odd  and  unusual  appearance  of  every  thing  at 
the  inn  served  to  increase  ;  and  the  Dutchman's  whiskey,  I 
suppose,  did  the  rest  of  the  mischief." 

"  Well,"  said  the  squire,  "as  you  have  cleared  up  all 
these  mysteries  so  satisfactorily,  we  will  now  drop  your 
ghostly  name  of  Phantom,  and  for  the  future  call  you 
simply  Marine." 

While  the  above  conversation  was  being  held  the  wid- 
ow Lee  had  told  Mrs.  Langdell  that,  in  her  opinion,  there 
was  not  a  braver  man  than  Marine  in  all  Laconia.  She 
then  alluded  to  her  late  loss,  and,  with  a  deep  sigh,  re- 
marked that  it  seemed  a  long  time  since  her  husband's 
death  at  the  massacre  of  Waldron's  garrison,  and  the 
country  could  ill  afford  the  loss  of  so  good  and  brave 
a  man. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mrs.  Langdell  ;  "  and  in  a  community 
like  this,  where  foes  and  forests  are  to  be  felled,  it  is  but 
a  duty  to  make  good  a  loss  of  this  kind  without  wasting 
too  long  a  time  in  useless  sorrow  and  unavailing  lamenta- 
tions.   Besides,"  added  sha  M  we  must  obey  the  Scripture 


124  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

command,  and  not  only  subdue  the  forests,  but  cultivate 
the  earth  as  well." 

At  this  remark  the  widow's  eyes  rolled  round  towards 
Marine  like  a  vessel  luffing  to  the  breeze,  although  the 
force  of  Mrs.  Langdell's  words  partook  more  of  the  na- 
ture of  a  gale  ;  while  Marine's  eyes,  like  a  ship  on  a  Lee 
shore,  "  stood  off   and  on  "  all  the  rest  of   the  evening. 

A  short  time  before  the  company  broke  up,  the  widow 
Lee,  seeing  an  open  harbor  in  the  latitude  of  Marine, 
sailed  alongside,  and  finally  came  to  anchor  in  a  chair 
near  him. 

"  I  think,  Mr.  Marine,"  observed  she,  "  that  you  have 
set  your  sails  right  to-night,  and  have  run  all  other  crafts 
bravely  down." 

"  0,"  replied  Marine,  "  I  believe  I  have  not  sunk  but 
one  vessel  yet,  the  nervous  man  not  having  yet  wheeled 
his  ship  into  line." 

"  No,"  laughed  the  widow  ;  "  nor  will  he.  He  has  prob- 
ably got  the  other  eye  open  by  this  time,  and  will  never 
again  risk  his  shattered  bark  among  these  breakers.  But," 
continued  she,  laying  her  hand  upon  her  heart,  "  although 
you  have  sunk  but  one  vessel,  you  have  seriously  damaged 
another,  which  I  am  afraid  will  soon  fill  and  go  down." 

The  widow  was  too  deep  for  Marine  this  time  ;  and,  fail- 
ing to  comprehend  her  meaning,  he  asked,  "  Who  is  it  ?  " 
at  the  same  time  casting  his  eyes  around  the  room,  and 
then  resting  them  again  upon  the  countenance  of  the  wid- 
ow, whose  mischievous  eyes,  humid  and  glistening  with 
ardent  emotion,  were  gazing  into  his  own. 

There  was  no  misinterpreting  that  look  ;  and  Marine 
gallantly  replied, — 

u  Ah,  it  will  never  do  to  let  that  beautiful  craft  sink  : 
and,  rather  than  that  such  a  calamity  should  happen,  I  wilJ 
take  charge  of  the  craft  myself." 

The  widow  now  called  for  her  bonnet  and  cloak,  as  the 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  125 

company  had  begun  to  disperse,  and  while  putting  them 
on  remarked,  — 

"  I  have  a  long  way  to  go  ;  and  it  is  so  dark  that  I  fear 
I  shall  lose  my  way  unless  I  have  a  pilot." 

"  If,"  responded  Marine,  "  you  will  put  me  at  the  helm, 
I  will  pilot  you  safe  into  harbor,  be  the  dangers  many  or 
few." 

"  Certainly,"  rejoined  the  widow,  smiling  from  out  her 
weeds  like  the  night-blooming  cereus,  "  nothing  would 
please  me  better  than  to  have  my  course  directed  by  a 
seaman  so  gallant  and  brave  as  yourself  when  our  enemies 
lurk  on  every  hand." 

The  hour  was  now  late  ;  and  the  whole  company,  with 
mutual  good  wishes  and  good  nights,  separated  for  their 
respective  homes. 

The  long  distance  between  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell 
and  the  relative  with  whom  the  widow  Lee  resided  seemed 
to  the  new  acquaintances  quite  too  short,  although  the  night 
was  extremely  cold.  They  had  talked  of  the  party  —  of 
the  Indians,  who  they  both  hoped  would  not  rise  again  — 
of  the  weather  in  all  its  tenses  —  and  finally  of  the  tract 
of  land  which  Marine  was  expecting  to  take  up  and  clear 
in  the  spring  for  his  own  homestead. 

Widow  Lee  then  alluded,  very  sorrowfully  of  course,  to 
the  death  of  her  late  husband  —  how  severely  she  felt  his 
loss,  and  that  she  did  not  know  whom  she  could  get  to 
cultivate  her  own  land,  already  under  improvement,  as  she 
did  not  feel  able  to  hire,  and  dreaded  moving  back  again 
into  her  house,  now  so  lonely  and  desolate. 

Marine  would  gladly  have  informed  her  of  what  he 
should  like  to  have  her  do  in  the  case  under  considera- 
tion :  but  he  dared  not  intimate  his  wish,  for  to  him  women 
generally,  and  widows  in  particular,  were  too  profound  an 
enigma  for  him  to  solve  ;  so  he  kept  silence.  They  had 
11* 


126  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

now  reached  their  destination  ;  and  the  widow  had  mount- 
ed the  doorstep  and  turned  around  to  say  "  Good  night," 
when  Marine  again  saw  the  mischievous  orbs  of  the  widow 
flashing  in  the  starlight  like  the  stars  themselves ;  and, 
quick  as  thought,  and  without  considering  the  awful  con- 
sequences of  the  rash  act,  he  made  a  rush  up  the  steps,  and 
dashing  under  the  widow's  bonnet,  tore  a  "  loud-sounding  " 
kiss  —  to  use  an  Homeric  epithet  —  from  her  rosy  lips,  and 
then,  as  if  frightened  at  his  awful  audacity,  bounded  again 
into  the  middle  of  the  road. 

He  now  ventured  to  look  back  ;  for  being  much  better 
acquainted  with  the  ways  and  workings  of  wine  than  of 
women,  he  expected  to  find  the  widow  either  lying  pros- 
trate in  hysteric  spasms  or  preparing  in  indignant  fury  to 
wreak  her  utmost  vengeance  upon  his  devoted  head.  But 
as  he  looked  back,  to  his  utter  and-  absolute  astonishment 
he  saw  the  widow  still  erect  upon  the  steps,  and  standing 
as  straight  as  a  bird  in  a  rainy  day :  while,  instead  of 
flying  at  him,  as  he  expected,  she  smiled  sweetly  and  said, 
"You  need  not  be  in  such  a  hurry  —  will  you  walk  in  ?" 
But  Marine  trembled  so  badly  that  he  dared  not  speak  for 
fear  of  his  voice  betraying  him  ;  so  he  was  suddenly  seized 
with  a  violent  cough,  and,  after  getting  somewhat  com- 
posed, walked  back  and  laughingly  pretended  that  his  late 
"  flying  off  at  a  tangent "  was  but  a  joke. 

It  was  so  late  that  Marine,  considering  her  invitation 
more  a  matter  of  form  than  reality,  excused  himself  for 
the  present,  saying  that  "  he  would  call  soon  ; "  "  Very 
soon,"  said  the  widow  ;  and  with  mutual  "  Good  nights  " 
they  separated. 

So  excited  was  Marine  that,  on  his  way  back,  he  rather 
ran  or  flew  than  walked  ;  and  as  he  bounded  along  he 
ejaculated,  "Egad!  nothing  'suspicious'  there.  Those 
lips  were  a  good  many  degrees  warmer  than  ghosts'  lips. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  127 

No  mistake  about  that,  any  how."  And  even  after  he 
retired  to  rest  his  slumbers  were  broken  by  restless  toss- 
ings  and  rolling  ;  and  towards  morning  he  awoke  himself 
and  the  other  inmates  of  the  house  by  singing  out  in  a 
stentorian  voice,  "  Don't  give  up  the  ship !  Helm  a-lee  ! 
hard  down !  Man  the  pumps,  and  we'll  keep  her  from 
sinking  yet ! " 


CHAPTER    XIII 


Pauotjs  Battle  so  called.  —  Death  op  Paugus  and  Black  Fish. 
Chocob.ua  made  Chief. 


The  next  day  after  the  party  at  Squire  Langdell's  We- 
nane,  the  son  of  Chocorua,  of  the  Pequawketts,  of  which 
tribe  Paugus  was  chief  sachem,  and  who,  as  the  reader 
will  recollect,  aided  Rozella  in  her  flight  from  the  attack 
of  Taurus,  Janus,  and  the  Indians  in  the  forest,  and  after- 
wards saved  her  life  at  the  garrison,  called  at  the  squire's 
house. 

Chocorua  had  a  lodge  in  the  forest,  not  far  from  the 
settlement  of  which  Squire  Langdell's  location  was  the 
centre  ;  and  at  the  close  of  every  Indian  war,  after  the 
treaty  was  made  and  the  pipe  of  peace  smoked,  he  came 
and  resided  at  this  place,  which  for  some  reason  he  pre- 
ferred to  the  territory  upon  and  between  the  head  waters 
of  the  lake  and  Pequawkett. 

At  this  time  Laconia  was  deluged  in  blood ;  Indian 
wars  and  massacres  were  breaking  out  in  almost  every 
part  of  New  Hampshire,  from  Charlestown  Number  Four  to 
Lower  Ashuelot,  Pennacook,  and  Suncook,  and  the  tribe 
of  the  Pequawketts  had  been  down  the  river  on  their 
murderous  mission.  They  were  now  expecting  a  visit  of 
retaliation  from  the  "white  dogs,"  as  they  termed  the 
English  ;  and  Wenane  had  come  to  inform  Rozella  and 
her  friends  that  they  might  make  preparation  against  the 

(128) 


LEGENDS   OP    LACONIA.  129 

awful  tornado,  should  another  desolating  blast  sweep  the 
already  bloodstained  borders  of  Laconia. 

The  appalling  intelligence  came  to  the  hearts  of  its 
inhabitants,  already  nearly  crushed  by  their  heavy  bur- 
dens, like  the  knell  of  departed  hope.  So  severely  had 
Ilozella  Langdell  and  Britton  Waldron  suffered,  when  of 
late  separated  from  each  other,  that  they  had  resolved 
nevermore  to  be  parted  except  it  were  necessary  for 
the  welfare  of  their  beloved  country.  Of  the  truth  of 
the  information  imparted  by  Wenane  there  could  be  no 
doubt  •  for  he  had  ever  shown  himself  a  true  and  unswerv- 
ing friend,  and  by  his  kind  acts  and  general  good  conduct 
had  not  only  grown  into  the  favor  and  esteem  of  Rozella 
and  her  friends,  but  was  also  a  favorite  with  the  settlers 
generally. 

From  him  they  learned  that  the  great  Paugus  had  with 
his  tribe  retired  to  Pequawkett ;  and  thinking  it  would 
better  conduce  to  the  safety  of  their  wives  and  children 
to  be  the  assailants  rather  than  the  assailed,  they  resolved 
"  to  carry  the  war  into  Africa,"  and  attack  them  on  their 
own  ground.  v 

They  had  now  been  for  a  week  in  active  preparation 
for  another  Indian  war,  which  they  dreaded  and  would 
gladly  have  avoided,  when  word  came  that  Massachusetts 
had  offered  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  pounds  for  every 
Indian  scalp  that  should  be  brought  in.  They  also  learned 
that  Captain  John  Lovewell,  of  Dunstable,  who  with  a 
company  of  forty  men  had  swept  the  Indian  country  the 
previous  year,  was  ready  to  march  in  pursuit  of  Paugus 
and  his  bloody  warriors,  and  that  the  force  he  had  raised 
would  be  sufficient  to  meet  the  enemy.  Therefore  most 
of  the  settlers  of  Laconia  decided  upon  remaining  at 
home,  to  provide  for  their  own  families  ;  and  it  may  be 
that  a  few  thought  their  heads  much  safer  upon  their  own 
pillows  than  in  the  wild  borders  of  the  Pequawketts. 


130  LEGENDS   OF   LACONTA. 

But  not  so  with  Britton  Waldron,  whose  bravery  had 
been  too  often  and  too  severely  tested  to  allow  room  for 
doubt  on  that  point.  Owing  to  the  powerful  attraction 
in  the  vicinity  of  Squire  Langdell's,  he  now  needed  little 
persuasion  to  stay  at  home  ;  and  as  Rozella  had  used  that 
little,  and  perhaps  an  overplus,  he  had  consented  to  remain. 

But  the  widow  Lee,  having  a  kind  of  presentiment  that 
at  no  very  distant  day  the  craft  of  Marine  and  her  own 
would  lie  side  by  side  in  the  snug  harbor  of  matrimony, 
and  wishing  that  the  reputation  for  courage  of  the  man 
she  was  to  marry  should  be  fully  established  previous  to  the 
union,  had  given  him  some  sly  hints  about  his  want  of 
courage ;  whereupon  he  resolved  to  assist  in  the  contem- 
plated attack  upon  the  enemies  of  his  adopted  country, 
that  he  might  thereby  be  counted  worthy  of  it  and  also 
of  the  hand  of  the  charming  widow.  His  resolution  meet- 
ing the  approval  of  the  widow,  he  got  his  toggery  on 
board,  and  was  now  ready  to  weigh  anchor,  clear  the  port, 
and  set  sail  for  Pequawkett. 

Robert  Yaughan,  who  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  at 
Cocheco  was  at  Little  Harbor,  thinking  it  was  necessary 
that  he  should  take  a  part  in  the  coming  contest,  in  order 
to  bring  himself  up  to  the  level  of  those  who  had  so  brave- 
ly fought  at  that  place,  also  determined  to  join  Captain 
Lovewell's  company,  and  under  his  command  proceed  to 
the  theatre  of  action.  They  therefore  gave  the  parting 
hand  to  their  friends,  and  started  for  Fort  Point  to  meet 
the  brave  Lovewell  or  await  his  arrival. 

Fort  Point  was  on  a  neck  of  land  on  the  extreme  right 
of  Merry  Meeting  Bay.  Upon  this  neck  of  land  and  by 
the  side  of  the  fort  stood  then  and  still  stands  a  majestic 
pine,  upon  which  the  colonists  were  wont  to  raise  their 
flagstaff  whenever  they  marched  into  its  vicinity  to  meet 
their  savage  foes.  And  the  same  old  iron  staples,  cor- 
roded and  eaten  with  rust,  by  which  they  fastened  the  flag- 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  131 

staff  to  its  trunk,  still  remain  to  be  seen  as  relics  which 
our  fathers  have  left  behind  them  to  remind  their  descend- 
ants of  their  heroic  bravery  in  subduing  a  land  thickly 
beset  with  treacherous,  lurking  foes  and  armed  bands  of 
outlying  savages. 

It  was  this  place  that  Robert  Yaughan  and  Marine, 
together  with  a  few  others,  had  reached,  to  await  the  ar- 
rival of  Lovewell  and  his  men.  The  great  war  path  of 
the  northern  tribes  lay  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Winnipiseogee  and  thence  along  the  Cocheco  valley  ;  there- 
fore, in  proceeding  to  Pequawkett,  Lovewell's  company 
must  necessarily  pass  this  point.  He  arrived  the  next  day, 
to  the  great  joy  of  Yaughan  and  his  friends  ;  but  one  of 
his  men  had  fallen  sick ;  and  when  they  reached  the  point 
the  captain  made  a  halt  to  provide  for  the  sick  man,  and 
also  to  make  Fort  Point  more  secure  in  case  the  overpow- 
ering force  of  the  enemy  should  compel  them  to  resort  to 
it.  At  this  place  they  left  the  sick  soldier,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Kidder,  and  also  a  sergeant  and  several  others  for  his 
better  protection. 

Notwithstanding  the  additions  Lovewell  had  received 
from  the  valley  of  the  Cocheco,  he  had  less  than  forty 
men  when  he  left  Fort  Point.  They  now  took  the  Indian 
path  and  proceeded  directly  towards  Pequawkett.  They 
reached  Saco  Pond  the  first  night,  some  fifteen  miles  from 
the  place  of  their  destination,  where  they  encamped. 
During  the  night  they  fancied  they  heard  the  Indians  about 
the  camp  ;  and  Chamberlain,  one  of  the  bravest  of  the 
band,  on  alarming  the  company,  found  it  so  dark  without 
that  nothing  could  be  seen,  as  a  man  and  a  tree  could  not 
be  distinguished  the  one  from  the  other.  But  the  night 
passed  ;  and  no  attack  being  made,  they  supposed  their 
fears  to  have  been  groundless.  The  next  morning,  while 
the  chaplain  of  the  company,  Jonathan  Frye,  was  praying 
that  they  might  be  shown   the  enemy  for  whose  destruc- 


132  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

tion  they  had  undertaken  their  weary  and  toilsome  march, 
and  had  not  yet  finished  his  petition,  the  report  of  a 
gun  rang  over  the  water  and  echoed  back  from  the  sur- 
rounding forest.  On  looking  in  the  direction  of  the 
report  they  discovered  a  solitary  Indian  standing  on  a 
point  of  land  which  ran  out  into  the  pond.  They  now 
expected  an  immediate  attack,  as  they  supposed  the  de- 
sign of  the  firing  of  the  gun  and  discovering  himself  by 
the  Indian  was  to  draw  them  into  a  battle. 

A  hasty  consultation  was  now  held  to  decide  whether  it 
would  be  prudent  with  so  limited  a  number  of  men  to  risk 
a  battle  with  so  formidable  an  enemy  as  Paugus  and  his 
brave  warriors.  Captain  Lovewell,  Farwell,  Lieutenant 
Jonathan  Bobbins,  Chamberlain,  Robert  Yaughan,  and 
the  bold  Marine  were  all  advocates  for  a  battle. 

"  We  came  in  search  of  the  enemy,"  said  they ;  "  and 
we  have  just  prayed  to  God  that  we  might  find  them  ;  and 
we  had  rather  trust  in  Providence  for  our  lives  —  yea,  or 
die  if  need  be  —  than,  by  returning  without  even  seeing 
them,  to  subject  ourselves  to  the  imputation  of  cowardice." 

An  advance  was  now  agreed  upon,  and  Captain  Lovewell 
gave  the  command  for  the  soldiers  to  lay  down  their  knap- 
sacks, and  proceed  with  the  utmost  caution  and  in  perfect 
readiness  for  an  attack. 

When  they  had  marched  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  Ensign 
Wyman  espied  an  Indian  coming  towards  them  ;  where- 
upon he  gave  the  signal  previously  agreed  upon,  and  every 
soldier  threw  himself  upon  the  ground  and  awaited  his 
approach.  When  he  had  arrived  sufficiently  near,  several 
guns  were  discharged  at  him,  when  he  fired  in  return  and 
mortally  wounded  Captain  Lovewell,  and  then  fell  himself. 
They  now,  supposing  that  the  Indians  were  in  front  of 
them,  and  that  he  who  had  fallen  had,  like  a  second 
Roman  Curtius,  devoted  himself  to  death  to  save  his 
country,  hastily  returned  for  their  packs,  and  to  defend 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  133 

themselves  as  best  they  might.  But  the  horror  they  felt 
may  be  better  imagined  than  described  when,  on  reaching 
the  spot  where  they  had  left  them,  they  saw  them  in  the 
hands  of  a  band  of  Indian  warriors  of  twice  their  own 
number. 

As  they  came  nearer  to  their  exultant  foes,  who  stood 
over  their  packs  with  such  a  fiendish  and  diabolical  grin 
upon  their  painted  faces  as  only  an  Indian  can  give,  it 
may  well  be  supposed  that  they  were,  to  say  the  least, 
somewhat  disconcerted.  They  now  stood  face  to  face  with 
the  savages,  neither  party  firing,  and  exchanged  mutual 
glances  of  burning  hate  and  deadly  hostility. 

While  the  negotiations  for  treaties  of  peace  between  the 
Indians  and  the  English,  so  frequently  made  and  broken, 
were  pending,  many  of  both  parties  who  had  stood  in 
battle  array  against  each  other,  now,  burying  the  hatchet 
and  smoking  the  pipe  of  peace,  became  familiarly  acquaint- 
ed. Of  these  were  some  on  both  sides  of  the  now  oppos- 
ing forces.  The  Indians  saw  and  knew  the  brave  but  now 
wounded  Lovewell,  Farwell,  Chamberlain,  Wyman,  and 
others  ;  who,  in  turn,  saw  the  mighty  sachem  Paugus,  who 
on  this  occasion  presented  a  most  frightful  appearance, 
being  dressed  in  a  huge  bearskin,  and  bands  of  fur  about 
his  legs,  with  his  wampum  and  battle  axe  at  his  side,  his 
gun  in  his  hand,  and  his  keen  knife  in  his  belt ;  while  upon 
his  head  was  a  broad  belt  of  wolfskin,  full  of  the  feathers 
of  the  hawk  and  eagle. 

By  his  side  stood  the  renowned  Wahwa,  in  a  dress  no 
less  frightful  and  terrific. 

There,  too,  was  the  lamb  in  peace,  but  lion  in  war,  the 
dreaded  Chocorua,  and  others  of  less  note,  to  the  number 
of  about  eighty  fierce  and  bloodthirsty  savages,  who  thus 
cut  off  their  retreat,  and  now  stood  with  looks  and  ges- 
tures of  determined  and  deadly  hostility  between  them- 
selves and  their  only  avenue  of  escape. 
12 


134  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

Then  Paugus  set  up  that  awful  howl  which  he  alone  was 
capable  of  giving  in  its  most  terrific  style  ;  for,  in  the 
words  of  a  poet  of  that  day, — 

"  As  runs  the  fox  would  Paugus  run ; 
As  howls  the  wolf  would  Paugus  howl." 

The  brave  little  band  of  English  had  now  walked  with- 
in a  few  yards  of  their  foes ;  and  as  Paugus  ceased  his 
howling  war  song  the  command  was  given,  and  both 
parties  fired  at  one  and  the  same  time.  The  Indians 
overshot  their  mark  ;  but  the  balls  of  the  English  did  awful 
execution.  As  they  fell,  both  dying  and  living  set  up  the 
dreadful  howl  of  vengeance  and  despair.  The  savages, 
having  about  twice  the  number  of  the  English,  still  had  a 
sufficient  force  to  outnumber  their  antagonists,  and  now 
drove  them  over  the  rocks  to  the  shore  of  the  pond.  When 
they  could  retreat  no  farther,  but  stood,  still  facing  their 
relentless  pursuers,  and  hemmed  in  by  the  water  on  one 
side  and  their  enemies  on  the  other,  then  the  savages 
commenced  their  hideous  "  powwowings,"  yelling  and  howl- 
ing like  wolves  and  barking  like  dogs,  until  the  wild 
woods  echoed  and  reechoed  with  the  infernal  din,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  all  pandemonium  had  broken  loose  at  once. 

Then  followed  the  additional  "  powwowing,"  which  was 
only  performed  on  unusual  occasions  like  the  present, 
such  as  striking  on  the  ground  and  performing  a  thousand 
feats  of  "  ground  and  lofty  tumbling/7  of  which  those  of 
the  circus  give  but  a  faint  idea. 

Ensign  Wyman  and  the  intrepid  Marine  now  levelled 
their  pieces  and  fired,  and  the  leaders  of  this  infernal  pow- 
wowing, Wahwa  and  one  of  his  comrades,  fell,  and  the 
fiendish  cotillon  broke  up. 

The  Indians  now  held  up  pieces  of  rope,  which  they  had 
brought  to  bind  their  captives,  and  called  upon  the  Eng- 
lish to  lay  down  their  arms  and  surrender. 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  135 

"  Never ! "  shouted  Chamberlain  and  Wyman.  "  Never ! " 
echoed  Vaughan  and  Marine. 

The  guns  of  both  parties  had  by  this  time  become  so 
foul  as  to  be  unserviceable. 

"  Now,"  cried  Paugus  to  Chamberlain,  "  if  the  white  dog 
will  not  surrender,  let  us  wash  out  our  guns  in  the  lake,  and 
he  who  gets  his  piece  cleaned  first  will  have  the  first  fire." 

"  Agreed,"  replied  Chamberlain  ;  and  both  sprang  for 
the  water,  Paugus  in  the  mean  time  shouting  to  Chamber- 
lain, "  It  is  you  and  I ;  it  is  you  and  I." 

"  Ay,"  responded  Chamberlain ;  "  it  is  you  and  I,  sure 
enough." 

Neither  seemed  to  gain  upon  the  other  in  washing  out 
and  swabbing  his  piece,  and  both  loaded  and  returned  the 
ramrods  to  their  places  at  the  same  moment ;  when  at 
this  instant  Chamberlain,  looking  up,  saw  Paugus  raising 
his  powder  horn  to  prime  his  piece,  and,  quick  as  thought, 
giving  his  gun  a  smart  blow  upon  the  side,  thereby  caus- 
ing it  to  prime,  he  brought  it  to  his  shoulder  ;  and  as  Pau- 
gus, thinking  himself  ahead,  exultingly  cried  out,  "  White 
dog  no  prime,"  crack  went  his  piece,  and  the  great  sachem 
fell  dead  at  his  feet. 

Before  Paugus  fell,  Marine,  who  had  got  behind  a  large 
rock,  had  shot  three  Indians.  He  would  put  his  hat  upon 
a  stick  and  raise  it  above  the  rock  until  the  bullet  of  an 
Indian  whistled  through  it,  when,  letting  it  drop,  as  the 
savage  ran  up  for  his  scalp  he  would  drop  him. 

Vaughan,  too,  had  done  good  execution  from  a  cleft 
rock.  He  first  shot  an  Indian  near  it,  and,  while  the  at- 
tention of  all  was  absorbed  by  their  personal  and  individ- 
ual encounters,  dragged  him  into  the  cleft,  and  placed  him 
upright  at  the  entrance,  where  the  space  between  the 
rocks  was  just  narrow  enough  to  retain  him  ;  then  placing 
his  gun  in  his  hands,  as  though  he  were  yet  alive,  he  fired 
over  his  shoulder.    From  this  novel  breastwork  he  dis- 


136  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

charged  his  piece  with  unerring  aim,  the  redskins  suppos- 
ing all  the  while  that  it  was  one  of  their  own  braves,  who 
was  bringing  down  a  paleface  at  every  shot. 

But  when  the  report  of  Chamberlain's  death-dealing 
gun  was  heard,  and  the  mighty  Paugus,  the  most  renowned 
warrior  of  all  the  mountain  tribes,  was  seen  to  fall  and 
struggle  like  the  dying  wolf  in  the  agonies  of  death,  then 
did  the  savages  set  up  a  howl  so  despairing  that  the  woods 
and  hills  seemed  by  their  mournful  echoes  to  be  vocal 
with  the  shrieks  of  demons  and  the  awful  wailings  of  their 
doomed  victims. 

The  English  now  charged  upon  their  terror-stricken  foes, 
who  retreated  to  the  woods,  closely  pursued  by  their  bold 
assailants,  and  a  new  order  of  combat  was  presented. 
Reports  of  guns  were  more  frequent  than  before,  and  the 
shrill  whistling  of  balls  startled  the  ear,  while  bark  flew 
and  boughs  fell  in  every  direction.  As  the  Indians  were 
now  fighting  in  their  own  peculiar  and  favorite  manner, 
the  English  were  compelled  to  adopt  the  same  tactics,  and, 
like  them,  dodge  from  tree  to  tree,  discharging  their  pieces 
at  whatever  part  of  the  person  of  the  foe  might  be  visible. 
Marine  and  Vaughan  had  both  been  wounded,  but  still 
fought  as  unflinchingly  as  ever. 

Marine  again  tried  his  former  stratagem  of  projecting 
his  hat  from  one  side  of  the  tree  behind  which  he  stood, 
and  again  did  the  well-aimed  bullet  pass  through  it ;  while 
the  redskin  who  had  fired  the  shot  sprang  hastily  for 
another  tree  to  see  if  his  shot  had  taken  effect,  but  never 
reached  it ;  for  he  had  scarcely  taken  three  leaps  when 
Marine's  swift-winged  messenger  of  death  passed  through 
his  breast,  and,  leaping  high  in  the  air,  lie  fell  dead. 

Vaughan  had  darted  from  tree  to  tree  at  one  side  of  the 
battle  ground  to  get  sight  at  those  in  front ;  and  as  he  flew 
to  a  large  pine,  a  powerful  and  muscular  savage  was  also 
making  for  the  same  tree. 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  137 

Both  reached  it  at  the  same  time  and  both  fired  at  the 
same  instant ;  but  in  their  mutual  eagerness  for  each 
other's  destruction,  neither  brought  his  gun  to  a  level,  and 
thus  both  overshot.  '  Dashing  their  guns  to  the  ground 
they  drew  their  knives,  and  for  a  few  moments  looked 
upon  each  other  with  mutual  hate,  neither  daring  to  avert 
his  eye  or  turn  around,  lest  his  adversary's  knife  should 
be  buried  in  his  back. 

Then  the  Indian  gave  one  terrific  whoop,  and  both 
struck  fiercely  and  furiously,  and  brightly  flashed  the  fiery 
sparks  from  their  clashing  knives.  At  this  instant  the 
quick  eye  of  the  cunning  savage  caught  sight  of  a  root  at 
their  feet  from  under  which  the  earth  had  been  gullied  by 
the  rains,  and  instantly  bounded  back.  As  he  did  so, 
Vaughan  sprang  forward  for  another  thrust,  when  his  foot 
tripped  in  the  root,  as  the  Indian  had  supposed  it  would, 
and  he  fell  prostrate  upon  his  face. 

But  this  trap  was  not  destined  to  be  the  means  of  his 
capture  ;  for  the  moment  he  struck  the  ground  he  darted 
between  the  Indian's  feet,  and  the  descending  knife  of  the 
redskin,  aimed  at  his  body,  fell  upon  and  slightly  wounded 
one  of  his  legs. 

The  savage,  as  he  struck,  followed  his  own  weapon,  and 
fell  prostrate  on  the  ground.  He  sprang  like  lightning  to 
his  feet,  but  only  to  meet  his  adversary's  knife,  whose  long 
blade  passed  between  his  ribs,  near  his  backbone,  and 
pierced  his  heart. 

Ensign  Wyman,  meanwhile,  was  engaged  in  a  singular 
combat  with  a  long  specimen  of  the  Indian  species,  called 
Black  Fish  ;  who,  with  the  agility  of  a  fish,  glided  from 
tree  to  tree,  to  whose  giant  trunks  his  own  massive  pro- 
portions were  little  inferior.  Like  Vaughan,  Black  Fish 
had  passed  round  the  opposite  flank  of  the  little  band,  and 
for  a  like  purpose.  But,  unfortunately  for  himself,  he 
struck  a  snag  so  far  down  the  stream  that  he  could  not 
12* 


138  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

turn  his  long  length  to  again  stem  the  opposing  current. 
This  snag  was  a  large  tree  which  had  been  uprooted  by  the 
wind,  and  in  its  fall  taken  up  upon  its  roots  a  large  patch 
of  earth.  Behind  this  patch  lay  Wyman,  with  his  long 
Dead  Shot,  as  he  termed  his  piece,  peeling  the  bark  from 
off  the  trees  in  his  vicinity  and  occasionally  tanning  a  red- 
skin. As  he  dealt  a  powerful  blow  at  a  distant  hemlock, 
and  peeled  the  bark  from  off  both  the  tree  and  the  peep- 
ing redskin  behind  it,  he  felt  the  gravel  rattling  down 
upon  him  from  the  rim  of  the  patch  above  his  head,  and, 
looking  up,  saw  the  projecting  eagle's  feathers,  which  he 
knew  denoted  the  close  proximity  of  Black  Fish. 

The  next  moment  the  long  gun  of  the  savage  came  over 
the  roots,  almost  touching  his  head  ;  but  he  sprang  aside, 
and  its  contents  were  buried  in  the  ground  at  his  feet. 
Wyman  had  seen ,  Lieutenant  Robbins  and  Robert  Usher 
fall  before  the  same  murderous  weapon ;  and,  full  in  the 
determination  that  it  should  not  be  the  means  of  taking 
the  lives  of  any  more  of  his  friends,  he  seized  and  wrested 
it  from  his  enemy's  grasp. 

Neither  dared  run  for  fear  of  being  taken  at  a  disad- 
vantage and  despatched  by  the  other.  Wyman  had  re- 
loaded his  gun,  but  dared  not  discharge  it  at  a  distant  foe 
for  fear  of  the  assault  of  his  nearer  neighbor,  though  not 
exactly  friend  ;  and  thus  for  some  time  they  remained 
within  a  foot  or  two  of  each  other,  though  neither  could 
see  the  other. 

But  Wyman,  though  not  an  Indian,  had  more  ingenuity 
than  the  savage.  He  cautiously  commenced  digging  out 
the  sand  from  between  the  roots  of  the  fallen  tree  ;  and 
as  he  approached  the  upper  surface  some  of  the  sand  fell 
upon  the  other  side,  as  Wyman  had  intended.  The  bait 
took  ;  and  as  Black  Fish,  seeing  the  dirt  fall,  and  suppos- 
ing Wyman's  attention  still  occupied  in  enlarging  the 
hole,  applied  his  eye  to  it,  a  ball  from  Dead  Shot  whizzed 


.    ! 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  139 

through  his  brain  ;  and  with  one  screech  of  mortal  agony- 
he  rolled  heavily  off  the  log  and-expired. 

Chamberlain,  since  the  fall  of  Paugus,  had  been  singled 
out  by  all  the  Indians  as  an  object  of  their  special  ven- 
geance, though  they  were  careful  to  keep  out  of  his  way  ; 
and  he  could  induce  no  redskin  to  engage  in  a  hand-to- 
hand  encounter.  But  the  balls  flew  thick  and  fast  about 
him ;  and  he  received  many  and  severe  wounds,  though 
fortunately  none  proved  mortal. 

After  Black  Fish  had  fallen,  Chocorua,  who  was  now  in 
command,  gave  the  order  to  retreat ;  and  the  Indians, 
giving  one  terrific  yell,  dashed  into  the  woods  and  disap- 
peared. 

"  Now,"  said  Lieutenant  Bobbins,  as  he  lay  mortally 
wounded  upon  the  ground,  "  charge  my  gun  and  leave  it 
by  my  side ;  and  when  the  Indians  come  in  the  morning 
for  my  scalp,  I  will  despatch  one  more  if  I  can." 

Of  the  Indians  it  is  supposed  not  more  than  twenty  out 
of  the  eighty  escaped  un wounded,  while  the  English  also 
were  badly  cut  up.  Three  or  four  of  their  number  they 
were  obliged  to  leave  behind  in  a  dying  condition  ;  and 
eleven  more  of  the  wounded,  together  with  eight  or  ten 
who  were  unwounded,  started  for  Fort  Point,  some  dying 
upon  the  way  and  the  remainder  reaching  the  fort.  When 
they  arrived  there  they  found  it  entirely  deserted  ;  all  of 
its  inmates,  including  even  the  sick  soldier,  had  gone.  It 
was  ultimately  ascertained  that,  when  they  were  first 
attacked  by  the  Indians,  one  of  their  men  proved  a  coward 
and  left  the  field,  and,  on  reaching  Fort  Point,  had -report- 
ed that  the  English  were  entirely  cut  off;  whereupon  all 
hastened  back  to  their  homes. 

Marine  and  Vaughan,  with  the  other  brave  heroes, 
passed  the  night  at  the  fort,  and  the  next  morning  took 
the  path  down  the  Cocheco  valley  to  the  settlements  of 
Laconia ;  while  Chamberlain  and  the  remains  of  his  gal- 


140  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

lant  band  proceeded  down  the  Indian  war  path  to  Con- 
toocook,  and  thence  to  Dunstable. 

The  morning  following  Chamberlain's  arrival  at  his 
house  in  Dunstable,  on  looking  from  his  window,  he  dis- 
covered the  head  of  an  Indian  projecting  over  the  top  of 
the  wood  pile  in  front  of  the  house,  with  his  gun  pointed 
and  aimed  at  the  door  of  his  dwelling  to  shoot  him  as  he 
should  open  it.  He  immediately  cut  a  small  hole  in  the 
door,  and  with  the  same  gun  with  which  he  brought  down 
the  mighty  Paugus  now  sent  a  ball  through  the  head  of 
his  son,  who,  to  avenge  his  father's  death,  had  followed 
thus  closely  on  his  destroyer's  track. 

Thus  terminated  the  expedition  against  the  Pequaw- 
ketts.  They  had  received  a  blow  from  which  they  never 
recovered  ;  and  the  main  body  of  the  tribe  soon  left  that 
section  of  country,  and,  locating  upon  the  southern  and 
eastern  banks  of  the  Connecticut  River,  joined  the  tribe 
under  the  great  warrior  Philip.  The  few  Pequawketts 
who  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Ossipee  and  Lake  Winnipi- 
seogee  chose  Chocorua  for  their  chief,  who,  having  made  a 
treaty  of  friendship  with  the  English,  buried  the  tomahawk 
and  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 


Dolly  Plot   has   another  Interview  with   her  Associates.  —  The 
Dutchman  of  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  and  the  Traveller. 


"  'Tis  nine  o'clock ;  the  candle  burns  slowly,  and  the 
flame  shoots  up  in  a  strange  and  suspicious  manner.  I'll 
lay  my  bridle  out  in  full  view,  and  'twill  serve  as  a  dun 
for  my  dues.  Ah,  there  are  two  flames  at  the  top  of  the 
wick,  and  one  of  them  is  blue.  Yes,  they  will  come  ;  but 
I  see  by  the  blue  flame  that  one  of  them  brings  bad  news. 
There  goes  a  winding  sheet  down  the  wick.  Horrors ! 
Some  one  of  my  friends  will  die  or  leave  me  soon.  Tab, 
too,  walks  the  floor,  instead  of  settling  in  the  corner 
watching  the  shimmering  coals  ;  and  now  he  looks  up  at 
the  ceiflng.  Yes,  something  will  fall  upon  me  heavily,  for 
he  looks  troubled.  Pan  also  holds  his  ear  to  the  door 
and  snuffs  at  its  chinks.  But  a  spark  shoots  from  the 
burning  wick  —  a  present,  then,  I  am  to  have  ;  so  there  is 
some  good  coming  with  the  bad. 

"But  I  wish  they  would  come  and  take  these  clothes 
from  my  table  ;  besides,  it  is  cold  without  to-night,  and 
Taurus  will  need  his  cap  and  coat,  and  Janus  his  hat  and 
frock.  'Twas  cruel  in  me  —  wasn't  it,  Tab?. —  to  treat 
my  friends  so.  But  'twas  the  whiskey  that  chippered  so 
cheerily  in  the  canteen  that  was  most  to  be  blamed.  But 
they  meant  me  no  harm  ;  and  if  I  only  knew  where  to 
find  them,  I  would  go  to-night  and  carry  them  their  cloth- 

(141) 


142  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

ing.  I  must  keep  on  the  right  side  of  them,  for  I  have  no 
friends  to  spare.  I  wish  the  five  crowns  had  been  melted 
into  bullets  to  shoot  witches  with  before  I  had  demanded 
them.  What  are  rusty,  cold  crowns  compared  to  warm 
friends  like  them?" 

At  this  moment  a  loud  rap  was  heard  at  the  door,  and 
in  stumbled  the  objects  of  Dolly  Plot's  soliloquy.  As  she 
rolled  to  the  door,  and  in  great  delight  held  out  her  hand 
to  the  foremost  of  the  brace,  the  worthy  Taurus,  she  came 
in  violent  collision  with  his  burly  frame,  which,  with  the 
impetus  it  had  acquired  in  coming  against  the  door,  could 
not  stop,  but  pitched  directly  against  her  and  fell  heavily 
to  the  floor. 

Janus,  who  was  not  quite  so  much  intoxicated  as  his 
companion,  dashed  at  his  head  to  raise  him  up  ;  but  by 
the  time  he  had  reached  him  Pan  had  seized  him  by  his 
boots,  and  with  numerous  and  powerful  jerks  was  endeav- 
oring to  induce,  him  to  back  out  of  his  position.  Dolly 
and  Taurus  were  shouting  "  Murder  ! "  at  the  top  of  their 
voices ;  Janus  bellowing  "  Get  out ! "  Pan  replying  "  Yes ! 
yes  ! n  in  quick  yelps,  as  he  attempted  to  drag  him  out  in 
obedience  to  his  mistress's  profane  outcries  ;  while  Tab,  in 
his  fright  mistaking  the  looking  glass  for  the  window, 
smashed  into  it  with  headlong  fury  and  fell  stunned  to  the 
floor,  with  the  glass  top  of  him,  but,  quickly  recovering,  at 
the  next  leap  went  through  the  window,  scattering  the 
fragments  in  all  directions,  and  disappearing  in  the  dark- 
ness without. 

"  Mine  horror !  mine  horror ! "  ejaculated  the  little 
Dutchman  of  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn,  who  came  in  at  this 
juncture  with  a  traveller  who  was  to  be  lodged  at  the 
Buck's  Horn ;  "it  ish  murter,  zure  enough  :"  at  the  same 
time  catching  Taurus  by  the  shoulders  to  raise  him  up. 
Dick  sprang  for  some  weapon  of  defence,  and  the  first 
thing  he  laid  hold  of  was  Dolly's  folded  bridle,  which  was 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  143 

lying  upon  one  of  the  highbacked  chairs.  But  as  he 
turned  around,  the  dog  had  left  Taurus  and  flew  at  the 
little  fat  Dutchman,  who  roared  out  so  lustily  that  the 
frightened  animal  turned  from  him  and  dashed  out  at  the 
open  door.  Taurus  was  just  attempting  to  rise  when  Ja- 
nus threw  the  bridle  over  his  head  and  informed  the  witch 
that  her  horse  was  groomed  and  bridled  and  good  for  the 
twenty-mile  heat. 

The  day's  debauch  of  Taurus  had  filled  his  head  not 
only  with  the  fumes  of  rum  bu-t  also  with  such  a  pressure 
of  blood  that  when  he  fell  his  nose  bled  profusely,  from 
the  effects  of  which  all  in  the  room  had  suffered.  Even 
Dolly  presented  a  most  frightful  and  pitiful  appearance. 
The  high  crown  of  her  cap  now  trailed  upon  her  back, 
covered  with  dust  and  blood ;  her  face  and  dress  were 
also  bloody  and  torn,  her  comb  broken,  and  her  eyes  glar- 
ing frightfully  in  the  flitting  blaze  of  the  fire.  Her  looks 
bore  ample  testimony  to  her  late  soliloquy,  "  No  friends  to 
spare." 

"  I  zay,"  asked  the  Dutchman  of  Taurus,  "  vot  te  tuyfel 
all  dish  ere  mean  ?  " 

"You  just  mind  your  own  damn  business,"  hickuped 
Taurus  in  maudlin  tones. 

"  The  brute  is  drunk,"  said  Dolly,  snatching  the  bridle 
from  off  his  neck  and  flinging  it  behind  the  door.        „   . 

"Drunk  —  eh?"  replied  Taurus.  "No  gentleman's 
drunk's  long's  he  can  sit  in  his  saddle  and  hold  a  tight 
rein  —  eh  ?  " 

"  I  have  seen  enough  of  this  place,"  said  the-  now  dis- 
gusted traveller,  "  and  have  no  wish  to  remain  to  have  my 
fortune  told  by  such  a  pitiful-looking  object  as  she,"  —  at 
the  same  time  looking  at  aunt  Dolly,  — "  and  I  will  return 
to  the  inn." 

"  Mine  Cot ! "  said  the  Dutchman ;  "  I  tink  we  have  zeen 
enough  myself  —  yas,  blaanty  enough  ;  so  to  de  Puck's 
Horn  Inn  it  ish.'* 


V 
144  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

"  To-morrow  night,"  cried  Dolly,  "  I  shall  be  better  pre- 
pared to  receive  company  who  may  wish  to  consult  me 
professionally." 

As  they  passed  out  into  the  entry  to  leave  the  house  the 
Dutchman  suddenly  bawled  out,  as  he  stumbled  over  some- 
thing in  the  passage,  — 

"Vot  te  tuyfel  ish  here  ?  " 

"  0,  nothing,"  replied  Janus,  "  but  the  carcass  of  a  sheep 
we  bought  at  the  upper  settlement  and  have  brought  for  a 
present  to  aunt  Dolly." 

"  Py  tarn,"  said  the  Dutchman,  holding  the  skin  in  which 
it  was  rolled  up  to  the  light,  "  he  pe  mine  own  plack  zheep, 
mit  de  vite  leg ;  and  I  vill  have  ze  rascals  who  kill  mine 
zheep  took  up  in  de  morning  and  try  pefore  Squire  Lang- 
tale,  and  zee  vat  mercy  you  gatch  vill  pe  round  de  neck 
mit  de  halter." 

Both  Taurus  and  Janus  now  sprang  to  the  door  and  sol- 
emnly averred  that  they  had  bought  the  sheep  from  a  man 
whom  they  met  on  the  road  from  the  Upper  Plantation  ; 
but  both  the  Dutchman  and  the  traveller  had  left,  and 
only  Tab  and  Pan  Were  to  be  seen  as  they  skulked  back 
into  the  house. 

By  this  time  the  loss  of  blood  and  the  fright  occasioned 
by  the  discovery  of  the  Dutchman  had  sobered  the  muddled 
brain  of  Taurus  to  such  a  degree  that  he  could  talk  quite 
coherently  again  ;  and  Dolly  had  washed  the  blood  from 
her  face  sufficiently  to  be  enabled  .to  see  through  to  the 
light ;  while  Janus  was  engaged  in  collecting  and  removing 
the  broken  glass  which  was  scattered  in  all  directions  over 
the  floor. 

"  Now,"  asked  Jack  Taurus,  "  what  is  to  be  done  ?  " 

"  Pay  me  the  five  crowns,"  replied  Dolly,  "  and  also  for 
the  glass  you  have  broken." 

"  The  crowns,"  replied  Taurus,  "  I  have  not  got ;  but 
here,"  said  he,  drawing  a  valuable  watch  from  his  pocket, 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  145 

"  is  something  worth  ten  crowns,  ready  money,  which  I 
obtained  to-day  of  a  man  at  the  Upper  Settlement  at  the 
game  of  brag." 

"  And  here,"  added  Janus,  going  to  the  door,  "  is  some 
mutton  we  have  brought  you  as  a  present." 

"  I  knew,"  cried  Dolly,  "  that  I  should  have  one,  for  I 
saw  it  in  the  candle  ;  and  I  knew,  too,  that  something  was 
to  befall  me,  but  had  no  idea  it  was  to  be  caused  by  this 
drunken  intruder." 

"  No  joking,"  said  Taurus  ;  "  for  we  must  leave  this 
place  to-night,  or  we  shall  have  the  officers  upon  us  in 
the  morning." 

"  Whither  ?  "  asked  Dolly. 

"  To  the  trapper's  camp,  up  the  mountain,"  was  the  re- 
ply. "  The  company  leaves  to-morrow  ;  and  we  had  agreed 
to  go  to-day,  but  did  not  expect  to  leave  in  such  haste. 
Squire  Langdell  knows  that  I  am  determined  to  obtain 
and  marry  the  Forest  Queen,  either  by  fair  means  or  foul ; 
and  he  would  show  me  no  mercy  were  I  to  be  brought 
before  him  for  trial." 

"  0,"  answered  Dolly,  "  do  not  go.  I  will  still  help  you 
to  obtain  Rozella,  and  I  will  give  the  Dutchman  the  watch 
in  pay  for  the  sheep  ;  so  that  all  will  be  well  again." 

"  The  Dutchman,"  rejoined  Taurus,  "  will  take  nothing 
but  our  hides  in  pay  for  his  black  sheep  we  have  stolen. 
We  have  found  a  cave  in  the  mountain,"  continued  he, 
"  where  even  an  Indian  could  not  discover  us,  and  no  hu- 
man foot  but  our  own  has  ever  trod  its  granite  floor.  We 
may  stop  there  for  a  day  or  two,  and  then  go  on  with  the 
company  to  trap  the  beaver  by  the  streams  and  ponds  at 
the  foot  of  the  mountain.  Perhaps,  after  we  are  gone,  the 
Dutchman,  who  is  a  great  lover  of  money,  may  settle  it  for 
the  watch  when  he  finds  he  can  get  nothing  else.  If  so, 
as  some  of  the  company  will  surely  call  on  Dolly  Plot  on 
their  journey  to  the  mountains,  you  must  write  a  line  to 
13 


146  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

that  effect  ;  and  when  we  return  we  will  settle  up  all 
scores,  both   old  and  new,  and   be  fast  friends  again." 

"  I  shall  certainly  do  so,"  replied  Dolly,  "  and  will  do 
my  best  to  bring  about  a  settlement." 

"Meantime/"  added  Taurus,  "keep  an  eye  upon  the 
lovely  Rozella  ;  and  if  Waldron  is  dropped  off  by  an 
Indian  or  leaves  the  place,  be  sure  you  let  me  know 
at  once." 

"  All  of  that,  and  more,  too,"  replied  Dolly,  "  I  shall  do 
for  you  ;  so  good  night ; "  and  the  worthy  brace  departed. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


LACONIA  AT  EABLY  SPBING  TlME.  —  PEACE.  —  The  NEBV0US  MAN  TITBITS 

out  to  be  the  famous  john  puddington,  the  wltch  hunteb. — hl8 
Application  to  Squibb  Langdell  for  a  Warrant  for  Dolly  Plot. 
—  Geobge  "Whitefield  appears  in  Laconia. 


'Tis  early  spring  —  the  joyous  time  of  year 
When  from  the  guiltless  breast  gloom  flies, 
And  swelling  hopes  and  prospects  cheer  the  mind. 
The  drifts  of  winter  and  the  frosts  of  earth 
Give  way  before  its  onward  march,  and  fly 
To  vap'ry  mists  beneath  its  genial  smile. 
From  out  the  tangled  thickets  of  the  groves 
The  merry  songster  ventures  forth,  and  pipes 
His  thrilling  prelude  to  the  summer's  symphony ; 
While  in  the  silent  woods,  with  whirring  wings, 
The  partridge's  rolling  drumbeat  marks  the  hour, 
And  solaces  its  mate's  maternal  cares. 


But  never  before  had  spring  come  with  hopes  so  bright 
and  prospects  so  cheering  as  now  upon  the  young  and 
growing  settlement  of  Laconia.  The  powerful  tribes  of 
Indians  both  at  the  east  and  north  had  been  conquered 
and  dispersed,  while  the  remnant  of  the  main  body  had 
nearly  all  left  the  country,  and  the  few  who  remained  had 
sued  for  peace  and  buried  the  bloody  tomahawk. 

Rozella  Langdell  had,  since  the  time  of  her  recapture, 
grown  still  lovelier,  and  Britton  Waldron  still  more  de- 
voted. He  had  listened  to  the  thrilling  notes  of  her  en- 
trancing voice  ;  he  had  ridden  by  her  side  over  the  precip- 

(147) 


148  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

itous  hills  and  strolled  with  her  in  the  budding  groves  \ 
and  they  had  not  only  talked  of  love,  but  had  felt  its  fervoi 
and  its  power. 

Elsie  Tufton  was  now  in  perfect  health  and  the  constant 
companion  of  Rozella,  to  whom  she  had  become  endeared, 
not  only  by  similarity  of  tastes  and  dispositions,  but  by  a 
thousand  little  kindnesses  and  favors,  which,  though  small, 
were  none  the  less  acceptable. 

Marine  had  returned  from  the  "  Paugus  fight,"  as  it  was 
termed,  with  all  his  blushing  honors  thick  upon  him,  and 
hie  head  towered  as  high  in  the  atmosphere  of  military 
glory  as  any  of  the  brave  heroes  of  Laconia.  And  the 
widow  Lee  —  ay,  the  lovely  widow  Lee  —  had  received 
him  with  open  arms  on  his  return  from  the  bloody  field  of 
fight,  and  welcomed  him  to  their  mutual  home.  They  had 
now  been  husband  and  wife  but  one  short  week  ;  and  al- 
though it  was  but  spring  elsewhere,  'twas  more  like  sum- 
mer at  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lee's  ;  for  be  it  known  that,  as  it 
was  not  uncommon  in  those  days  for  the  husband  to  take 
his  wife's  name,  Marine  had  added  to  his  name  that  of  his 
wife,  and  was  now  known  as  Marine  Lee.  He  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the  settlement,  and  one 
to  whom  the  settlers  looked  for  counsel  and  assistance  in 
every  time  of  trial  or  danger. 

As  the  spring  opened  and  the  news  of  their  triumphant 
victories  and  successful  treaties  had  gone  abroad,  the  col- 
ony rapidly  increased  in  numbers,  and  scarcely  a  day 
passed  but  some  new  settler  arrived  and  located  within 
the  borders  of  Laconia ;  and  for  the  two  years  next  suc- 
ceeding this  peace  the  sound  of  the  woodman's  axe  and 
the  crash  of  the  falling  trees  up  by  the  shores  of  Winni- 
piseogee  and  onward  towards  the  Crystal  Hills  had  been 
substituted  for  the  deafening  report  of  the  old  queen's 
arms  and  the  whistling  whirl  of  the  Indian's  tomahawk. 
Coctiorua,  and  his  son,  the  noble  Wenane  had  returned  to 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  149 

their  lodge  in  one  of  the  beautiful  groves  of  Laconia. 
The  old  chief  was  somewhat  morose  in  the  little  inter- 
course he  held  with  the  white  settlers  ;  but  his  battle  axe 
slept  more  quietly  than  it  seemed  possible  it  should  after 
having  been  so  baptized  in  blood  and  carnage. 

He  possessed  a  great  fund  of  knowledge  of  Indian  tra- 
ditions and  legends,  and  was  also  well  versed  in  the  de- 
tails of  the  wars  between  his  people  and  the  English, 
almost  every  occurrence  of  which  was  to  be  found  posted 
up  on  the  leger  of  his  remarkable  memory.  As  Cocho- 
rua  had  no  wife  nor  squaws  connected  with  his  lodge, 
Wenane  still  remained  with  him,  although  he  would  have 
much  preferred  to  adopt  the  habits  and  customs  of  the 
English.  The  blood  of  the  bear  and  the  deer,  the  wolf 
and  the  otter,  satiated  his  thirst  for  the  crimson  gore  ;  and 
when  he  was  not  in  the  forests  trapping  and  hunting,  he 
made  frequent  and  friendly  visits  to  the  settlements,  where 
he  found  ready  purchasers  for  his  game  and  furs. 

In  the  mean  time  it  had  been  ascertained  that  the  ner- 
vous man  with  the  twinkling  eye,  who  had  disappeared  so 
suddenly  at  the  conclusion  of  the  sailor's  narrative  of  the 
phantom  ship,  was  the  famous  John  Puddington,  a  pro- 
fessed witch  hunter.  He  had  met  Taurus  and  Janus  at 
the  Upper  Plantation  the  day  following  their  frightful  ex- 
perience at  fortune  telling  at  the  hut  of  Dolly  Plot,  and 
had  learned  from  them  that  she  was  a  real,  bona  fide  witch. 
He  had  returned  to  Squire  Langdell's,  as  the  widow  Lee 
had  predicted,  with  both  eyes  open,  and  reported  to 
Rozella  and  her  father  the  facts  he  had  ascertained.  He 
declared  that,  in  the  presence  of  Jack  Taurus  and  Dick 
Janus,  the  old  hag  had  assumed  the  identical  form  and 
body  of  a  monstrous  black  cat ;  that  she  had  burned  both 
their  hands  by  the  door  key ;  that  she  had  filled  Jack's 
mouth  with  pins,  and  wound  up  by  mounting  the  broom- 
13* 


150  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

stick  and  riding  round  the  room  at  a  rate  decidedly  inside 
of  2.40. 

The  squire  and  Rozella  laughed  heartily  at  his  won- 
drous recital ;  whereupon  John  dropped  the  weak  eyelid 
again  and  appeared  much  surprised. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  with  her  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  Let  her  remain  as  she  is,"  replied  Rozella,  "  if  she  has 
bewitched  nobody  but  these  worthy  gentlemen." 

"  Why  let  her  remain,"  pursued  John,  "  if  she  is  capa- 
ble of  doing  so  much  mischief  in  the  settlement  ?  " 

"  Because,"  replied  Rozella,  "  it  seems  by  that  act  that 
she  is  capable  of  doing  at  least  one  commendable  deed  as 
well  as  numerous  bad  ones  ;  and  I  would  spare  her  on  the 
same  principle  that  the  farmers  adopt  when  they  suffer 
the  kingbird,  who  eats  their  bees,  to  live,  because  he 
drives  away  the  hawk  from  the  pursuit  of  the  young 
chickens,  and  destroys  the  caterpillar  upon  the  tender 
trees." 

"  I  can't  exactly  keep  the  run  of  that  roundabout  sort 
of  argument,"  replied  John,  "  and  I  want  a  plain  yes  or 
no.  Now,  I  demand  of  Squire  Langdell  that  he  issue  a 
warrant  for  her  arrest ;  and  I  will  bring  her  before  him 
forthwith,  and  have  her  tried,  condemned,  and  hanged  as 
a  witch." 

The  squire,  as  well  as  his  daughter,  laughed  again  most 
merrily,  but,  to  John  Puddington,  most  provokingly. 

"  I  should  laugh  louder  yet,"  said  Rozella,  "  to  see  my 
good  father  sitting  perched  up  there  in  the  east  room, 
with  a  silly  old  woman  before  him  on  trial  for  her  life  for 
being  a  witch." 

"And  why  not  your  good  father?"  persisted  John. 
"  The  most  learned  judges  and  the  greatest  men  in  Massa- 
chusetts are  this  day  sitting  on  the  bench,  trying  and  hang- 
ing silly  old  women,  as  you  term  them,  for  being  witches." 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  151 

"The  greater  the  judge,"  retorted  the  squire,  "the  great- 
er the  fool.  And  although  I  heartily  wish  Dolly  Plot  and 
her  associates  were  beyond  the  borders  of  our  loved  Laco- 
nia,  yet,  if  she  does  not  leave  until  she  feels  a  tight  rope 
by  virtue  of  a  warrant  of  rny  drawing,  she  will  live  and 
disgrace' our  fair  soil  for  many  a  month  to  come." 

So  John  Puddington,  the  man  with  the  twinkling  eye, 
left,  despairing  of  getting  a  warrant  from  the  squire  ;  but 
that  nervous  eye  would  still  twinkle,  and  the  other  still 
shut  only  on  extraordinary  occasions.  The  next  they 
heard  of  him  was  in  Portsmouth,  at  the  celebrated  trial 
of  Goodwife  Walford.  She  was  brought  before  the  Court 
of  Assistants  on  complaint  of  one  Susannah  Trimmings, 
and  the  testimony  of  a  number  of  witnesses  was  gravely 
laid  before  the  court,  of  all  the  strange  sights  and  sounds 
they  had  seen  and  heard,  the  balls  of  fire  with  which  they 
had  been  smitten,  of  old  ladies  turned  into  cats  and  going 
mousing  about  their  neighbors'  premises,  or  taking  moon- 
light excursions  on  broomsticks  and  other  equally  strange 
steeds  whose  pedigree  is  unknown.  But  to  the  honor  of 
Laconia  be  it  said,  not  one  was  hung  ;  while  in  Massachu- 
setts they  were  hanged  by  scores.  And  in  the  then  little 
town  of  Salem  twenty  innocent  old  "  mediums,"  if,  indeed, 
they  were  equal  to  their  successors  of  the  present  day 
and  worthy  of  the  name,  were  "  hung  by  the  neck  till  they 
were  dead." 

Soon  after  this  another  malignant  epidemic  swept  over 
Laconia,  entitled  "  religious  intolerance."  Quaker  women 
were  persecuted  for  their  belief  and  publicly  whipped  in 
the  streets  of  Dover.  In  one  instance,  in  the  depths  of 
winter,  the  constables  were  ordered  to  strip  three  delicate 
and  feeble  women  and  tie  them  to  the  tail  of  a  cart  for 
merely  believing  and  carrying  into  practice  their  peculiar 
doctrines.  The  cart  was  then  to  be  driven  through  eleven 
towns,  or  about  eighty  miles,  and  the  women  were  to  receive 
ten  stripes  apiece  in  each  town. 


152  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

During  the  two  years  of  cessation  from  Indian  hos- 
tilities there  came  to  Laconia  the  most  eloquent  man, 
with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  Patrick  Henry,  that  was 
ever  heard  on  the  western  continent.  This  was  no  other 
than  George  Whitefield,  a  name  sacredly  embalmed  in  the 
religious  remembrances  of  thousands  of  the  American  peo- 
ple. He  was  of  humble  origin,  and  had  no  ancient  and 
aristocratic  genealogy  to  swell  his  fame  or  give  him  a 
favorable  introduction.  But  his  words  not  only  cut  the 
way  for  his  mission,  but  cut,  like  a  two-edged  sword,  deep 
into  the  hearts  of  his  hearers. 

His  silvery  tones  awoke  the  groves  of  Laconia ;  and 
where  blood  was  wont  to  run  peace  flowed  like  a  river, 
and  mercy  like  gushing  streams  and  fountains.  And  as 
the  silvery  mists  encircle  the  mountain's  sides,  so  did  the 
enchanting  spell  of  his  matchless  oratory  cling  to  the  bold, 
brave  heart  of  the  rough  mountaineer. 

The  enthusiastic  explorer  of  the  unending  beauties  of 
Nature,  who  marched  by  the  majestic  music  of  the  purling 
waterfall  in  search  of  some  new  delight,  heard  the  rippling 
drops  of  liquid  eloquence,  and  felt  a  strange  and  mystic 
swell  within  his  own  heart,  as  if  some  spiritual  cascade 
had  suddenly  burst  out  in  some  of  its  hitherto  unexplored 
recesses,  to  which  the  brightest  charms  of  external  scenes 
were  but  as  vanity.  And  the  admirer  of  Nature  in  her 
tamer  and  more  quiet  aspects,  whose  chief  delight  was  in 
"  rural  sights  and  rural  sounds,"  left  his  gayest  and  most 
favorite  warbler,  as  he  swung  upon  the  topmost  branch  of 
some  bending  willow  with  the  most  thrilling  variations 
still  gurgling  from  his  reedy  throat,  and  in  the  simple 
cadence  of  his  fervid  tones,  fresh  from  the  heart,  forgot 
e'en  Nature's  sweetest  choristers  ;  for  a  "  still  small  voice  " 
whispered  of  angel  tones  on  golden  harps  celestial. 

Even  the  lighthearted  maiden,  whose  tripping  foot 
scarce  crushed  the  flower  upon  which  it  trod,  and  who 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  153 

roamed  with  the  bee  and  the  butterfly  from  "  morn  to  dewy 
eve/'  left  her  busy  companion,  coated  with  his  yellow, 
waxen  fleece,  to  swing  and  wave  among  the  odors  of  the 
ripening  strawberry,  or  blow  his  tiny  trumpet  from  out 
the  velvet  flower  bells  of  the  morning  glory  ;  for  sweeter 
notes  and  more  heavenly  strains  have  swept  the  chords  of 
her  young  heart,  and  awakened  her  soul  with  its  diapason 
of  immortal  harmony. 

All  business  of  a  secular  nature  was  suspended  ;  the 
shops  and  stores  of  the  villagers  were  closed ;  the  mer- 
chant forgot  his  leger  to  look  after  his  spiritual  divi- 
dends ;  and  the  accountant  was  only  anxious  to  ascertain 
the  sum  total  of  his  hopes  of  eternal  life. 

The  sailor  furled  his  canvas  and  left  his  ship,  chafing 
restlessly  at  the  wharf,  to  learn  of  Him  who  walked  upon 
the  waves  and  spoke  their  foaming  surges  into  peace.  How 
worthless  and  unprofitable  seemed  their  own  marvellous 
and  exaggerated  narrations  when  compared  with  the 
simple  story  of  the  youthful  Nazarene  —  a  story  which 
a  child  can  tell,  and  to  which  a  sage  can  add  nothing ! 
The  simple  rehearsal  of  the  birth,  life,  and  death  of  the 
Babe  of  Bethlehem,  the  Reconciler  of  man  unto  God  and 
the  Savior  of  the  world,  carries  upon  its  sweet  accents  of 
mercy  a  melting  pathos  which  subdues  and  soothes  all 
human  hearts  and  wins  them  back  to  heaven. 

How  striking  the  contrast  between  this  and  the  dry 
technicalities  and  acute  subtleties  of  some  modern  theo- 
logian, who,  cramped  and  fettered  by  his  narrow  creed 
and  sectarian  bigotry,  has  so  hedged  up  the  way  of  life 
that  when  hungry  souls  ask  for  bread  he  can  only  give 
them  a  stone  upon  which  to  grind  their  teeth  and  mar- 
tyrize their  nerves,  and  from  whose  granite  crums  even 
the  starving  soul  revolts,  and  is  ready  to  faint  and  die  for 
want  of  that  "  bread  of  life  "  of  which  our  Father's  house 
has  enough  and  to  spare  ! 


154  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

Thus  did  Whitefield,  with  spiritual  ploughshare,  break 
up  the  religious  greensward  of  Laconia,  and  upon  the 
fertile  soil  strew  the  perennial  seed  of  faith  and  good 
works,  which  still  sends  up  a  rich  and  abundant  harvest. 

That  timorous  maiden  whom  neither  Ralle  nor  all  his 
savage  coadjutors,  with  their  torturing  racks  and  heavy 
chains,  could  intimidate  or  subdue,  —  even  the  fair  Eozella, 
—  with  all  her  friends,  joined  the  crowds  that  thronged 
around  him,  and  learned,  and  loved,  and  lingered  at  his 
feet. 


CHAPTEE   XVI. 


Meeting  of  the  Mountain  Rangers  on  the  Eve  of  their  Departurb 
to  Cape  Breton.  —  Rozella  presents  them  a  Banner.  —  Her 
Speech  and  its  Reception.  —  Rozella' s    Song. 


The  royal  families  of  France  and  Spain  were,  at  this 
time,  connected  by  the  tie  of  relationship.  Bat  Spain  did 
not  possess  the  stern  integrity  and  dauntless  valor  she 
once  exhibited  to  the  world  under  her  chivalrous  leader, 
Don  Roderic,  the  last  of  the  Gothic  kings,  when  overrun 
by  her  Arabian  invaders  ;  and  ever  since  the  feud  which 
had  broke  out  between  Britain,  and  Spain,  it  had  been  ex- 
pected that  France  would  be  involved  in  the  quarrel.  If 
such  should  be  the  case,  the  American  colonies  must  neces- 
sarily be  included  in  the  scene  of  hostilities.  These  anti- 
cipations were  soon  realized.  England  did,  indeed,  declare 
war  against  France  ;  and  Duquesnel,  the  French  governor 
of  Louisburg,  who  received  the  intelligence  before  it 
reached  New  England,  with  a  large  body  of  men  surprised 
the  English  garrison  at  Canso.  He  not  only  destroyed 
the  fort  and  other  buildings,  but  also  the  English  fisheries 
and  posts  in  Nova  Scotia  and  Newfoundland ;  and  with 
sixty  prisoners  of  war  returned  to  Louisburg,  a  city  two 
miles  and  a  quarter  in  circumference,  surrounded  by  a 
wall  of  stone  thirty-six  feet  in  height  and  a  ditch  eighty 
feet  in  width. 

It  is  situated  on  a  neck  of  land  on  the  bleak  and  rocky 

(155) 


156  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

Island  of  Cape  Breton.  There  is  no  vegetation  brought 
to  perfection  in  summer  upon  its  sterile  shores  ;  for  it  is 
wrapped  in  perpetual  fog,  which  is  impervious  to  the  most 
powerful  rays  of  the  sun. 

This  early  disaster,  by  the  attack  of  Duquesnel,  drew 
the  attention  of  the  colonists  to  the  importance  of  getting 
possession  of  Louisburg  ;  and  its  reduction  was  undertaken 
in  genuine  Yankee  spirit.  The  prisoners  at  Canso  were 
finally  sent  to  Boston  on  parole  ;  and  from  them  Governor 
Shirley  obtained  an  accurate  account  of  the  fortress  at 
Louisburg,  and,  with  his  characteristic  energy,  determined 
at  once  upon  an  enterprise  against  it.  The  fishermen  at 
Marblehead,  who  had  been  driven  from  the  bay  and  waters 
between  Nova  Scotia  and  Newfoundland,  arose  at  once, 
and  proved  to  the  colonies  that  they  were  not  marble 
hearted  if  they  were  marble  headed. 

Massachusetts  resolved  to  join  the  expedition,  and,  by  a 
majority  of  one  vote,  raised  a  force  of  three  thousand  vol- 
unteers. New  Hampshire  raised  a  detachment  of  five 
hundred  men,  and  Connecticut  as  many  more.  Robert 
Yaughan,  who  was  then  in  Boston,  rode  as  express  to  his 
adopted  town,  Portsmouth,  and  rallied  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, then  in  session ;  and  they,  catching  the  en- 
thusiasm, passed  a  vote  to  raise  men  and  money  for  the 
expedition ;  and  the  morning  drum  beat  the  reveille  to 
arms.  The  country  round  about  was  then  in  the  midst  of 
one  of  Whitefield's  religious  revivals,  who,  being  consult- 
ed, exhorted  his  followers  to  enlist  in  the  cause  of  their 
country;  and  so  zealously  did  the  new  converts  rush  to 
arms,  that  it  amounted  to  little  less  than  one  of  Fray 
Antonio  Agapida's  pious  crusades.  The  officers,  too,  had 
added  fuel  to  the  flame  by  shrewdly  urging  upon  the  con- 
verts the  religious  duty  of  destroying  the  images  which 
adorned  the  French  churches  of  the  island  ;  and  one  of  the 
chaplains  carried  a  hatchet  with  which  to  cut  them  down. 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  157 

"Vaughan  and  other  messengers  were  sent  through  the 
neighboring  towns ;  and  as  the  bountiful  crops  of  the  year 
were  just  harvested,  the  settlers  rejoiced  at  the  welcome 
summons. 

William  Pepperell,  of  Kittery,  a  merchant  of  stern  in- 
tegrity and  heroic  valor,  was  appointed  commander-in- 
chief  ;  and  Meserve  received  the  appointment  of  colonel 
of  the  New  Hampshire  forces.  The  towns  in  the  vicinity 
were  appointed  for  the  raising  of  companies,  and  Britton 
Waldron  was  commissioned  captain  of  the  Mountain  Ran- 
gers. The  troops  of  Massachusetts  embarked  at  Boston  ; 
but  so  ardent  for  the  conflict  and  impatient  of  delay  were 
the  New  Hampshire  forces  that,  at  their  own  request,  they 
were  permitted  to  sail  two  days  in  advance  of  those  of 
Massachusetts.  The  vessels  to  transport  them  to  their 
new  and  heroic  enterprise  lay  moored  in  Portsmouth  Bay, 
ready  for  their  embarkation. 

Captain  Waldron's  company,  by  previous  agreement, 
met,  the  evening  of  their  departure,  at  the  house  of  Squire 
Langdell,  and  the  lovely  Rozella  presented  them  a  new  and 
splendid  banner,  upon  whose  silken  folds  were  tastefully 
embroidered  various  mottoes  and  appropriate  devices, 
wrought  by  her  own  skilful  hand. 

It  was  early  in  the  evening  ;  and  the  full  moon  rose,  with 
her  broad,  generous  face  smiling  out  from  beneath  the  veil- 
ing mists  upon  the  horizon's  verge,  and  with  a  brighter 
disk  than  she  was  wont  to  wear  on  minor  occasions.  The 
rattling  drum  summoned  the  scattered  and  lingering  groups 
of  soldiers  from  their  friends,  who  had  assembled  to  bid 
adieu  to  the  brave  band,  and  the  company  paraded.  All 
hearts  were  now  beating  impatiently  for  the  appearance 
of  Rozella  ;  nor  were  they  kept  long  in  suspense  ;  for,  as 
they  gazed,  the  door  opened,  and  the  Queen  of  Hearts  as 
well  as  of  the  Forest  came  forth,  accompanied  by  her 
friend  Elsie  Tufton. 
14 


158  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

At  her  approach  wild  and  hearty  greetings  filled  the  air, 
and  were  repeated  and  returned  by  a  thousand  echoes 
from  the  distant  hills.  Never  had  she  appeared  so  majes- 
tically charming.  Her  dress,  though  simple,  was  most 
tastefully  fitted  to  her  elegant  form  ;  and  although  when 
she  first  stepped  out  upon  the  hastily-constructed  platform 
she  was  pale  and  trembled  somewhat,  the  hearty  cheers 
of  the  soldiers  and  the  thoughts  of  her  country's  previous 
suffering  and  its  present  danger  rallied  and  reassured  her, 
and  she  soon  regained  her  wonted  composure. 

She  now  unrolled  the  elegantly-wrought  banner,  and 
presented  it,  for  the  first  time,  to  other  eyes  than  her  own. 
And  as  of  old  the  angel  stood  with  the  golden  bow  of 
promise  in  his  hand,  extending  from  heaven  the  sign  and 
covenant  that  the  earth  should  nevermore  be  destroyed  by 
a  flood,  so  to  the  enthusiastic  soldiers  below  her  did  Rozella 
seem  an  earthly  angel,  waving  over  them  her  banner  of 
promise  that  the  land  should  nevermore  be  destroyed  by  a 
flood  of  foes  from  without  or  again  deluged  in  blood  by 
treacherous  savages  within. 

All  voices  were  now  hushed,  but  only  to  break  out  in 
wilder  and  higher  strains  when  the  chaplain  proclaimed 
aloud  the  motto  engraved  upon  the  banner  —  "  Nil  despe- 
randum,  Christo  duce  ; "  i.  e.,  "  Despair  of  nothing,  Christ 
being  our  leader."  Then,  advancing  to  the  front  of  the 
platform,  Rozella,  in  a  clear  and  musical  voice,  addressed 
them  as  follows  :  — 

"  Gentlemen  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Mountain  Ran- 
gers :  Permit  me  to  congratulate  you,  the  liege  subjects  of 
his  majesty  King  William,  rightful  and  lawful  sovereign  of 
England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  upon  this  our  happy  meet- 
ing on  the  present  auspicious  occasion. 

"  You,  who  but  a  short  time  since  barely  escaped  with 
your  lives  from  the  murderous  knife  and  tomahawk  and 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  159 

flame  of  the  savage  foe,  while  your  nearest  and  dearest 
friends  were  hunted  down  like  wild  beasts  of  the  forest 
and  slain  at  your  very  feet,  have  ears  still  open  and  hearts 
obedient  to  the  call  of  your  country,  that  you  should  en- 
gage anew  in  her  service.  Brave  men  like  you,  my  coun- 
trymen, need  no  sordid  incentives  to  impel  them  to  action, 
for  motives  of  sufficient  power  are  to  be  found  at  your  own 
doors.  The  silent  voices  of  your  slaughtered  friends  and 
the  yet  unhealed  wounds  of  the  living  plead  with  a  hun- 
dred tongues  and  in  tones  far  more  eloquent  than  my  own 
that  you  should  take  up  arms  to  avenge  their  cruel  fate. 
The  knife  drawn  from  a  sister's  heart  is  still  unwiped  of 
her  pure  blood  ;  and  the  rocks  and  trees  are  still  red  with 
the  gore  and  dripping  with  the  brains  of  your  innocent 
and  helpless  babes.  Your  fathers  and  brothers,  to  save 
those  dearest  to  their  bosoms,  have  rushed  to  the  awful 
conflict  and  given  themselves  as  willing  sacrifices  upon 
the  altar  of  their  country,  until  the  heavens  are  black  with 
the  ascending  smoke  of  their  smouldering  bodies. 

"But  were  these  painfully  tragic  pages  torn  from  the 
book  of  remembrance  and  obliterated  forever,  then,  when 
duty  and  country  call,  brave  men  like  those  whose  flashing 
eyes  I  see  gleaming  with  determined  and  dauntless  resolu- 
tion would  rush  even  to  the  cannon's  mouth  and  ■  do  or 
die '  for  glorious  victory. 

"As  well  might  Persia's  king  have  stayed  the  rising 
waters  of  the  broad  Hellespont,  and  bound  them  with  his 
iron  chains,  as  for  the  King  of  France  and  his  menial,  Du- 
quesnel,  to  attempt  to  bind  the  limbs  of  America's  sons, 
whose  valor  has  no  terminus  but  liberty  or  the  grave. 

"But  higher  and  holier  motives  than  belong  to  ordi- 
nary occasions  should  animate  and  thrill  the  bosoms  of 
this  gallant  band.  You  not  only  go  to  the  release 
of  your  brethren  from  the  grasp  of  the  tyrant  at  Louis- 
burg,  that  they  may  be  restored  to  civil  liberty,  but  to 


160  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

rescue  the  people  from  the  superstitious  idolatry  of  a 
hireling  priesthood  and  restore  them  to  religious  liberty. 

"  There,  upon  that  bleak  and  barren  island  where  the 
sun's  rays  never  pierce  through  the  gloomy  sea  fogs,  you 
are  to  diffuse  the  warm  and  genial  rays  of  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness,  whose  name  I  have  placed  upon  your  ban- 
ner, and  whom  I  now  present  to  you  as  your  own  spiritual 
leader,  and  cause  his  healing  beams  to  shine  into  their 
benighted  hearts  through  the  blacker  and  denser  fogs  of 
ignorance  and  superstition. 

"  Gentlemen,  accept  through  your  captain  this  banner 
as  a  free  and  hearty  offering,  and  with  the  warmest  wishes 
and  most  earnest  prayers  of  a  devoted  heart  for  the  perfect 
success  and  triumphant  victory  of  the  Mountain  Rangers 
and  the  New  England  forces  in  general. 

"  0,  never  let  it  be  disgraced  by  the  hand  of  a  coward 
or  of  a  traitor,  or  by  the  profane  grasp  of  a  foe.  But 
where  the  red  blaze  of  battle  rages  hottest,  and  the  dun 
clouds  of  smoke  gather  blackest,  there  let  it  swing  out 
upon  the  breeze  till  victory  is  achieved,  even  if  it  is  rent 
into  a  thousand  fragments  and  the  balls  of  the  enemy  and 
the  blasts  of  heaven  in  doleful  concert  chant  their  requiem 
through  its  tattered  folds.  Soldiers,  it  is  not  only  the  flag 
of  freedom,  but  the  banner  of  Christianity.  "As  you  read 
its  motto  remember  Him  who  is  your  Leader ;  and,  de- 
spairing of  nothing,  victory  will  be  yours. 

"  The  learned  astrologer  of  Holland  has  already  fore- 
told the  glorious  triumph  that  awaits  America ;  and  the 
planets  who  are  the  watchful  guardians  of  her  dominions 
appear  attentive  to  her  prosperity,  and  no  misfortunes  im- 
pend over  her  head.  And  if  this  cheering  declaration  is 
written  in  the  planets  so  plainly  that  the  astrologer  can 
read  it,  0,  let  it  be  written  in  your  hearts  and  achieved 
by  your  acts  until  it  is  known  of  all  men.  Finally,  sol- 
diers, may  we  meet  again  when  victory  shall  be  succeeded 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  161 

by  more  peaceful  and  happy  days  ;  and,  until  then,  fare- 
well!" 

As  the  Forest  Queen  closed  her  address  Captain  Wal- 
dron,  who  had  advanced  and  with  trembling  hand  received 
the  banner,  in  a  manly  though  somewhat  unsteady  voice 
replied  :  — 

"  Fair  lady,  permit  me  in  behalf  of  the  Mountain  Ran- 
gers, and  especially  on  my  own  behalf,  to  return  our 
unfeigned  thanks  and  heartfelt  gratitude  for  so  marked 
and  signal  a  token  of  regard  as  this  beautiful  banner. 
Under  any  circumstances  and  on  any  occasion  like  the 
present  would  our  country's  flag  be  received  with  deep 
emotion  ;  but  when  we  remember  that  it  was  wrought  by 
the  same  fair  hand  that  presents  it,  our  hearts  can  only 
feel  that  silent  gratitude  which  our  lips  are  unable  to 
utter  and  language  impotent  to  adequately  express. 

"And  never  shall  the  flag  bearing  so  significant  and 
appropriate  a  motto  as  that  selected  and  wrought  upon  its 
silken  folds  by  yourself  be  suffered  to  fall  into  the  sacri- 
legious hands  of  an  enemy  until  the  last  drop  of  blood  in 
the  veins  of  the  last  Mountain  Ranger  shall  have  been 
shed  for  its  protection. 

"And  be  assured,  fair  lady,  no  coward  has  dared  to 
enrol  his  name  upon  the  list  of  the  Mountain  Rangers. 
His  hand  would  have  been  paralyzed  and  refused  to  in- 
scribe the  disgraceful  name  dictated  by  so  craven  a  heart. 
No,  these  are  the  true  and  honest  yeomanry,  the  brave 
and  unterrified  invincibles,  in  whose  veins  there  is  no  trace 
or  taint  of  cowardice.  The  music  that  greeted  their  birth 
was  the  clashing  of  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife,  and 
the  first  lesson  given  them  to  learn  was  the  war  whoop 
of  the  murderous  savage.  They  were  cradled  upon  the 
bosom  of  sorrow  and  suffering  and  nurtured  upon  tears 
14* 


162  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

and  blood.  And,  although  a  few  base  cowards  may  still 
lurk  and  prowl  about  our  settlements,  the  greater  part- 
have  gone  far  beyond  our  borders  into  the  pathless  wil- 
derness, to  die  abhorred  as  they  have  lived  despised. 

"  And  as  for  traitors,  there  are  none  in  our  mountain 
band  who  will  ever  prove  recreant  to  their  country's 
cause  ;  and  if  there  should  be  even  but  one  such,  he  could 
not  breathe  the  same  free  air  as  ourselves,  for  this  true 
mountain  breath  would  refuse  to  vibrate  through  the  pipe 
of  treachery  or  play  the  march  of  life  upon  so  false  and 
discordant  an  instrument. 

"  Look  ye  upon  yonder  towering  mountain,  whose  eyes 
of  crystal  gleam  so  brightly  from  underneath  their  beetling 
brows,  and  mirror  back  in  full  and  true  reflection  the  bril- 
liant rays  of  this  glorious  harvest  moon.  In  equal  truth 
and  fulness  shall  each  soldier's  acts  in  brave  and  heroic 
deeds  of  valor  reflect  the  fervor  and  enthusiasm  with 
which  your  eloquence  has  to-night  inspired  him.     . 

"  And  sooner  shall  the  lofty  mountain  itself  shrink  from 
the  thunders  above  or  the  fires  beneath,  and,  sinking  to 
the  plain,  turn  traitor  to  the  lesser  hills  around  its  base, 
than  that  one  Ranger  shall  shrink  from  the  battle  thun- 
ders, and  turn  his  heart  against  his  country  or  his  back 
upon  her  foes.  , 

"  And  the  same  faith  in  our  final  conquest  which  the  as- 
trologer found  written  in  the  planets  is  also  an  article  of 
faith  in  the  creed  of  every  soldier's  heart.  But  as  for  the 
caution  against  idolatry,  the  fair  Forest  Queen  must  pardon 
us  if  we  fail  to  come  up  to  her  requirements  ;  for  her  own 
burning  eloquence  and  matchless  charms  have  set  up  an 
idol  in  all  hearts  to-night  which  can  never  be  dethroned 
or  destroyed.  Yes,  thy  image  and  thy  impress  stand  out 
in  living  fidelity  from  the  heart's  broad  canvas,  of  which 
the  astrologer's  faith  and  the  warrior's  hope  are  but  the 
supporting  framework. 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  163 

"  But  the  hour  for  our  departure  over  the  hills  to  our 
vessel  that  awaits  us  is  at  hand.  We  thankfully  accept 
your  banner  and  your  blessing,  and,  by  bringing  back  the 
former  untarnished  and  undisgraced,  will  prove  ourselves 
in  some  degree  at  least  not  unworthy  of  the  latter.  Un 
til  then,  farewell ! " 

After  the  addresses  at  the  presentation  and  reception 
of  the  banner  were  concluded  Rozella  arose,  and,  in  a 
measure  similar  to  the  rhythm  of  the  modern  melody,  "  0, 
carry  me  back  to  old  Virginia,"  sung  the  following  song, 
in  the  chorus  of  which  the  soldiers  joined  most  heartily, 
while  between  the  stanzas  the  fife  and  drum  repeated  the 
air,  and  every  one  danced  in  time  to  their  music  :  — 

ROZELLA'S  SONG. 


The  gallant  chief,  for  our  relief, 

Hath  raised  the  flower  of  our  land, 
With  hearts  as  brave  as  the  ocean  wave 
That  dashes  on  our  strand. 

Ho,  boys !  unite  for  freedom's  fight, 

And  seal  the  tyrant's  doom  ; 
Each  soldier  swear  no  chains  he'll  wear, 
By  the  light  of  the  harvest  moon. 

Rat  ta  tat  tat  tat,  &c. 


II. 


The  stars  are  bright  this  autumn  night, 

They  flash  from  out  the  sky ; 
But  still  they're  pale  as  smoke  in  the  vale 

Compared  with  a  soldier's  eye. 
Ho,  boys  !  unite,  &c. 

III. 

The  savage  came  with  knife  and  flame 
And  burned  our  dearest  homes  ; 


164  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

Our  blood  hath  flown  o'er  turf  and  stone, 
In  forests  bleach  our  bones. 
Ho,  boys !  unite,  &e. 

IV. 

This  banner  wave  among  the  brave 
For  freedom  to  the  world  ;* 

And  tyrants'  breath  be  hushed  in  death 
Where'er  it  be  unfurled. 
Ho,  boys !  unite,  &c. 


CHAPTER    XYII. 


Chocorua  and  his  Son  Wenane.  —  Taurus  and  Janus  discovered  be- 
hind High  Rock.  —  Their  Discovery  by  Elsie  and  Wenane.  —  Scene 
between  the  rock  and  cave,  where  they  "were  routed  by  "wenane. 


Chocorua  and  his  son  Wenane,  during  the  events  re- 
lated in  the  last  chapter,  had  sat  upon  the  doorstep  of 
Squire  Langdell's  house.  Wenane  seemed  well  pleased  to 
see  his  friend,  the  lovely  Forest  Queen,  act  so  well  her 
arduous  part ;  and  his  feelings  became  so  enlisted  in  the 
scene  that,  when  the  soldiers  danced  to  the  rat  tat  tat  of 
the  drum,  he  sprang  upright,  and  with  steps  and  leaps  and 
jumps  danced  with  the  others  in  a  style  which,  if  not  ex- 
actly English,  was  very  good  Indian,  upon  his  rocky  floor. 

But  not  so  with  Chocorua,  who  felt  that  all  the  blood 
the  Indians  had  shed  was  in  defence  of  themselves  and 
their  hunting  grounds,  upon  which  the  palefaced  usurpers 
had  so  unlawfully  intruded.  But  he  said  to  himself,  "  It 
is  a  time  of  peace  between  the  paleface  and  the  red  man  ; 
and  Chocorua  hath  changed  the  hatchet  for- the  pipe.  He 
has  buried  the  former,  and  offered  up  the  smoke  of  the 
latter  as  a  peace  offering." 

Then,  with  a  deep  sigh,  he  hurried  with  Wenane  to  their 
dark  wigwam  in  the  forest.  On  their  way  thither  the 
young  Indian  frolicked  and  skipped  like  a  young  deer 
among  the  forest  trees  ;  but  the  old  chief  was  sad  and 
silent.    His  heart  ached  as  he  thought  of  the  wrongs  he 

(165) 


166  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

and  his  people  had  suffered,  and  longed  for  an  occasion  to 
arrive  when  he  might  dig  up  the  battle  axe  and  take  the 
field  again,  and  possess  himself  of  some  of  that  "flour  of 
the  land  "  of  which  Rozella  had  sung,  that  he  might  knead 
it  into  bread  to  suit  his  own  palate,  or  stir  it  into  a  mush 
after  the  most  approved  Indian  recipe.  On  their  arrival 
at  the  lodge,  the  old  chief  entered  and  immediately  threw 
himself  upon  his  bed  of  leaves  and  fell  asleep ;  but  We- 
nane,  saying  that  he  wished  to  gaze  a  little  longer  upon 
the  full  moon  and  the  bright  stars,  remained  outside. 

After  Rozella  and  Captain  Waldron  had  shaken  hands 
for  the  long  separation,  and  exhausted  all  the  terms  and 
phrases  of  which  they  were  masters  in  bestowing  upon 
each  other  kind  wishes  and  friendly  adieus,  the  company, 
to  the  music  of  the  shrill  fife  and  the  rattling  drum,  took 
up  their  long  line  of  march  for  the  vessels  which  were  to 
bear  them  to  the  distant  island,  there  to  fight  for  their  flag 
and  their  country.  As  they  departed  Rozella  gazed  with 
straining  eyes  after  the  retiring  band,  and  ran  over  in  her 
mind  the  scenes  through  which  they  might  pass  —  the  dan- 
gers they  must  encounter  and  the  battles  they  might  fight 
—  till  the  last  soldier  had  disappeared  from  her  sight 
over  the  most  distant  hill.  Then  with  faltering  step, 
being  somewhat  exhausted  by  the  fatigue  incident  to  the 
occasion,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Elsie,  she  sought  her 
couch,  to  ponder  on  the  soldier's  life  and  fortunes  and  on 
the  part  she  had  taken  in  the  programme  of  the  drama. 

After  the  young  ladies  had  retired  to  rest  neither  broke 
the  silent  meditations  of  the  other  for  a  considerable  time. 
At  length  Elsie,  whose  quick  eye  had  been  schooled  from 
infancy  to  notice  all  movements  of  a  suspicious  character, 
and  who,  while  Rozella's  address  was  being  delivered,  had 
observed  two  persons  who  seemed  to  avoid  a  near  ap- 
proach to  the  crowd  around  the  platform,  broke  the 
silence. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  167 

"  Dear  Rozella,  were  there  any  unusual  movements  ob- 
served by  you  during  the  delivery  of  your  address  this 
evening  ?  " 

"  None  that  I  noticed  particularly,"  replied  Rozella, 
;<  except  the  general  enthusiasm  with  which  the  people 
seemed  moved.  Was  there  any  thing  further  *that  your 
keen  eye  detected  ?  " 

"  It  may  have  been,"  replied  Elsie,  "  that  a  part  of  the 
mysterious  movements  of  the  individuals  I  saw  is  to  be 
attributed  to  my  suspicions  merely ;  but  the  fact  that  I 
saw  two  men  skulking  behind  the  rock  upon  the  knoll 
opposite,  and  that  my  enjoyment  for  the  evening  was  much 
disturbed  by  their  appearance,  is  not  fancy." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  exclaimed  Rozella  ;  "  and  who  did 
you  suppose  them  to  be?  —  Indians,  were  they  not?" 

"  No,"  replied  Elsie  ;  "  they  were  not  Indians." 

"  Who  could  they  be,  then  ?  "  cried  Rozella. 

"  If  I  am  not  much  mistaken,"  answered  Elsie,  "  and  I 
think  I  am  not,  they  were  your  old  rejected  lover  and 
bitter  enemy,  Jack  Taurus  and  his  twofaced  boon  compan- 
ion Dick  Janus." 

At  the  name  of  Taurus  Rozella  sprang  up  in  bed  cold 
and  pale  from  the  shock  the  mention  of  his  name  produced, 
and  cried  out,  — 

"  But  it  cannot  be  he  ;  for  he  has  gone  on  his  annual 
hunting  excursion  with  the  trappers  up  the  lakes  and 
mountains,  from  which  they  do  not  return  until  March 
or  April." 

"  True,"  rejoined  Elsie  ;  "  but  it  is  March  or  April  with 
Taurus  at  such  seasons  of  the  year  as  best  suit  his  conven- 
ience. And,  in  this  case,  he  probably  heard  that  the 
Rangers  were  about  to  leave  for  Louisburg,  and,  thinking 
he  would  encounter  no  foe  to  oppose  his  deeds  of  infamy, 
has  made  a  countermarch  to  October,  and  is  now  lurking 
about  the  settlement.     At  any  rate,  I  am  quite  sure  it  was 


168  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

he  ;  for  lie  wheeled  entirely  round  and  fell  lower  behind 
the  rock  when  Captain  Waldron  said  there  might  be  cow- 
ards still  lurking  in  the  settlement ;  and  I  saw  him  motion, 
to  Janus  when  the  captain  stepped  forward  and  received 
the  banner,  and  brought  his  gun  to  his  shoulder  with  one 
of  his  ghastly  grins,  as  much  as  to  say, '  I  should  like  to 
bring  him  down  if  my  own  life  would  not  have  to  pay  the 
forfeit.' " 

"  Alas  ! "  sighed  Rozella  ;  "  what  can  we  do  ?  How  I 
wish  we  had  kept  Wenane  or  the  Indian  doctor  with  us, 
and  had  them  stand  as  sentries  or  sleep  in  the  hall !  for 
we  may  all  be  murdered  before  morning." 

"  0,  be  calm,  dear  Rozella,"  said  Elsie  ;  "  there  is  no 
need  of  alarm  to-night,  for  they  are  both  arrant  cowards. 
Besides;  the  faithful  watchdog  that  lies  in  the  hall  will 
give  us  timely  warning  if  they  should  dare  approach  the 
house.  And  of  this  they  are  as  well  aware  as  we  are  ; 
and  if  not,  they  will  be  apprised  and  made  sensible  of  the 
fact  that  Jowler  there  is  doctor  enough  for  them  when  he 
bleeds  them  in  the  jugulars  with  his  spring  lancet  patented 
for  the  depletion  of  patients  so  plethoric  with  infamy  as 
themselves." 

11  But  are  you  quite  sure,"  asked  Rozella,  "  that  it  was 
Dick  Janus  who  was  with  him  ?  " 

"  Quite  sure,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  for  I  saw  that  ugly  scar 
on  the  deformed  cheek,  and  the  red  lid  that  has  fallen 
and  become  immovably  glued  upon  it,  as  though  it  was 
ashamed  and  utterly  refused  to  conceal  his  eyeball  glaring 
with  so  much  falsehood,  evil,  and  cruel  malignity. 

"  Then,"  said  Rozella,  "  it.  must  have  been  he.  But 
which  way  was  the  deformed  cheek  turned  ?  " 

"  Towards  ourselves  and  the  Rangers,"  replied  Elsie. 

"  Then  we  may  expect  trouble,"  said  Rozella ;  "  for  he 
always  turns  that  cheek  upon  his  foes  when  he  is  plotting 
their  overthrow." 


LEGENDS   OF  LaCONIA.  169 

"Nothing  very  ominous  in  that,"  rejoined  Elsie,  "for  in 
reality  both  cheeks  are  equally  bad ;  and  when  he  turns 
his  sound  one  we  know  that  it  is  only  to  deceive  his  vic- 
tim, that  he  may  be  able  the  more  effectually  to  poison  him 
with  the  venomous  virus  of  the  other.  But,  dear  Rozella, 
pray  be  composed  and  lie  down  ;  for  I  will  guaranty  that 
no  harm  shall  befall  you  to-night." 

Rozella  followed  her  friend's  advice  ;  and  being  weary 
and  quite  exhausted  from  the  fatigue  and  excitement  of 
the  evening,  both  were  soon  locked  fast  in  slumbers,  undis- 
turbed by  foes  without  or  fears  within. 

After  the  company  had  dispersed  —  the  soldiers  to  try 
the  uncertain  chances  of  war,  and  their  friends  with  heavy 
hearts  to  their  homes  —  all  was  still  without  save  the 
hoarse  howlings  of  the  gray  wolf  from  the  depths  of  the 
dark  forest,  and  the  melancholy  "  who  who  "  of  the  owl  as 
he  sat  perched  upon  some  dry  tree,  to  which  the  red  fox, 
who  longed  to  lay  his  head  upon  the  soft  bosom  of  his 
saucy  highness,  sharply  replied,  "  I  I."  At  this  hour  the 
two  worthies  so  well  described  by  Elsie  might  have  been 
seen  cautiously  creeping  from  the  rock  before  mentioned, 
and  noiselessly  taking  their  course  across  the  clearing 
toward  a  by-path  which  led  to  the  mountains. 

Of  these  twins  in  rascality  Janus  was  perhaps  the  most 
cunning  and  deceitful,  and  was  more  gifted  with  a  readier 
wit  of  the  lower  sort ;  but  Taurus  was  far  his  superior  in 
intellectual  power,  an'd  possessed  quite  a  store  of  facts 
and  sayings  gathered  from  those  with  whom  he  had  asso- 
ciated. But  if  they  ,differed  intellectually,  morally  they 
were  exactly  equal,  both  being  on  the  same  level  in  de- 
pravity and  falling  to  the  same  depths  of  infamy.  After 
this  well-matched  pair  had  receded  sufficiently  far  from 
the  settlement  to  be  beyond  both  sight  and  hearing,  Janus 
broke  the  silence  with  a  scoffing  repetition  of  a  part  of 
the  motto  upon  the  banner,  "Nil  desperandum."  They 
15 


170  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

both  raised  a  loud  „augh  whose  echo  made  the  woods 
ring. 

"  I  suppose,"  continued  Janus,  "  that  means  '  desperate 
nothing/  and  applies  to  Captain  Waldron,  who  is  just  that 
and  nothing  more.  But  before  he  returns  we'll  show  the 
land  sharks  there's  somebody  left  behind  who  will  play 
the  very  deuse  with  them  —  that  is,  if  we  don't  get  found 
out  and  strung  up  ourselves." 

"  If  we  stick  together,"  said  Taurus,  "  nothing  is  to  be 
despaired  of ; "  at  which  there  was  another  coarse  laugh 
and  another  ringing  echo  from  the  woods. 

This  reminded  them  of  the  soldier's  chorus,  and  they 
both  struck  out  in  the  same  breath,  "  Ho,  boys!  unite,"  &c. 
By  the  time  they  had  finished  the  chorus  they  had  reached 
a  smooth  ledge,  upon  which  they  balanced  to  each  other 
through  the  "  rat  tat  tat"  of  the  tune.  They  kept  up  tho 
jig  some  fifteen  minutes,  during  a  part  of  which  time  Janus 
imitated  the  antics  of  Wenane  when  upon  the  doorstep. 
When  they  had  blown  off  the  extra  steam  of  exuberatieu 
and  become  quite  sober,  "Now,"  cried  Janus,  "for  our 
concerted  plan  for  the  morrow." 

"It  is  all  arranged,"  replied  Taurus. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  Janus.  "  Not  to  turn  coward  and 
go  back  to  the  trappers,  I  hope.  You  said  you  were  com- 
ing here  either  to  destroy  Rozella  or  force  her  into  a 
marriage  with  yourself." 

"So  I  did,"  answered  Taurus;  "and  for  that  purpose 
only  am  I  here.  You  remember  the  old  tinker  we  found 
asleep  by  the  roadside  leading  to  the  settlement  last 
summer." 

"Ay,  well,"  replied  Janus  ;  "  and  I  remember,  too,  that 
you  stole  his  budget  of  tools,  and  he  was  not  workman 
enough  to  solder  up  that  leak  in  his  life  which  his  nap 
cost  him." 

"  True,"  said  Taurus  ;  "  and  the  old  smelt  probably  be- 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  171 

came  sensible  that  he  had  too  many  irons  in  the  fire  after 
he  got  his  fingers  burned.  But  where  are  those  tools  and 
the  sack  now  ?    Do  you  recollect  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Janus ;  "  they  are  all,  except  the  tube 
which  I  kept  to  blow  the  fire  with,  in  a  deep  crevice  of  the 
cave  whither  we  are  going  to-night.  And  if  they  were  to 
lie  there  until  Waldron  takes  the  French  island  and  puts 
Duquesnel  in  chains,  they  would  not  cement  the  deep  crev- 
ice of  the  granite  tomb  in  which  they  are  buried." 

"  Tomb,  is  it  ?  "  said  Taurus.  "  Well,  then,  we  will  wind 
the  blowpipe  and  have  a  resurrection  of  our  own  in  the 
morning." 

"  Not  exactly  of  your  own,"  laughed  Janus  ;  "  for,  if 
Wenane  should  rise  first,  you  won't  get  up  till  towards 
night ;  and  then,  if  you  come  out  robed  in  your  own  deeds, 
'twill  be  black  enough  to  be  called  night,  let  the  time  of 
day  be  what  it  may." 

Taurus's  eyes  now  began  to  flash  fire ;  and  Janus  was 
obliged  to  turn  the  matter  off  as  a  joke,  saying,  "  Come, 
let's  have  no  more  blackguardism  ;  give  us  the  plot." 

"  Well,"  said  Taurus,  "  to-morrow  I  am  to  be  a  tinker. 
The  longhaired,  gray  wig,  which  I  made  of  the  scalp  I  got 
from  the  Indian,  comes  in  use  now.  My  false  whiskers 
and  eyebrows,  and  the  spectacles  I  found  upon  the  table 
where  we  called  for  the  luncheon,  ride  my  nose  to  a 
nicety.  To-morrow  the  small  Indian  blanket  is  to  be 
folded  and  bound  upon  my  shoulders  before  I  put  on  my 
coat ;  and  thus  equipped  I  will  proceed  to  the  house  of 
Squire  Langdell,  and,  while  I  am  mending  the  handles  of 
old  teapots  and  kettles,  I'll  make  a  handle  of  my  own 
with  which  to  work  out  my  plans  to  good  advantage. 
And  while  I  am  repairing  the  locks,  for  the  better  pro- 
tection of  the  doors,  I'll  make  a  key  of  my  own,  with  which 
I'll  unlock  all  their  secrets  and  lay  my  schemes  to  obtain 
the  fair  Forest  Queen  ;  or,  failing  in  that,  to  wreak  my 


172  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

vengeance  on  her  and  her  hated  Waldron.  O,  my  soul 
envies  him  the  rich  prize  he  has  drawn  in  the  lottery  of 
life !  Envy  is  the  seed  of  a  man's  desires,  and  revenge  is  the 
fruit.  Waldron  has  sown  the  former ;  and  he  shall  reap 
the  latter,  either  in  his  own  person  or  in  that  of  his  idol. 
Envy  is  the  cause ;  revenge  shall  be  the  effect." 

"  But  you  were  not  always  so,"  said  Janus.  u  Once  you 
were  filled  with  love  alone  for  her,  and  no  envy  then  ran- 
kled in  your  breast." 

u  Love  !  "  said  Taurus.  "  I  love  her  now  better  than 
ever.  'Twas  her  surpassing  beauty  and  loveliness  that 
to-night  tore  open  the  wounds  of  my  heart  anew,  and 
makes  every  artery  of  minutest  calibre  bleed  afresh.  Ay, 
she  is  the  snow-white  Dove  of  Venus,  and  her  wings  glitter 
as  if  set  with  a  thousand  diamonds.  Her  food  is  not  of 
ordinary  grain  ;  but  she  sips  the  ambrosial  nectar  of  the 
gods  and  bathes  her  brilliant  plumage  in  the  very  dew  of 
heaven.  Her  couch  is  of  the  rarest  and  most  fragrant 
flowers ;  and  no  slimy  reptile  like  Waldron  shall  ever 
pollute  it.  Ah,  well  may  you  say  that  I  was  not  always 
filled  with  envy.  I  am  like  the  chameleon,  which  assumes 
the  hue  of  whatever  object  it  touches.  Envy  hath  touched 
my  soul,  and  I  but  reflect  its  rays  of  green  and  livid  hate. 
0,  it  was  those  sweet  lips  that  first  called  me  Taurus ;  and 
I  am  still  proud  of  the  name  !  I  would  not  change  it  for 
all  the  titles  that  were  ever  bestowed  upon  the  proudest 
potentate  of  earth ! 

"  But,  although  my  love  is  so  strong  and  overpowering, 
I  am  not  like  the  softhearted  and  sentimental  Waldron, 
sighing  and  whining  about  his  mother's  distress,  and  tell- 
ing of  the  tears  and  blood  on  which  he  has  been  kept ;  for 
this  is  but  food  for  babes.  Taurus  is  like  Vulcan,  and 
never  had  a  mother.  I  was  begotten  by  a  chance  bolt 
of  a  midnight  thunder  cloud  upon  the  wild  gap  of  the 
mountain  ;  and  the  first  sound  that  hushed  my  infant  lids  to 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  173 

slumber  was  the  hissing  music  of  the  serpent's  tongue. 
Why,  then,  should  I  not  be  envy  and  malignity  incar- 
nate ?  I  have  fed  on  vipers  and  been  nurtured  on  adders. 
The  tongue  of  envy  is  tipped  with  deadly  poison,  and  its 
eyes  are  green  and  glaring  with  revengeful  hate.  No 
smile  plays  upon  its  distorted  face  except  over  the  griefs 
and  miseries  of  others.  I  can  bring  down  the  king  of 
birds,  even  the  soaring  eagle,  from  its  lofty  height ;  and 
I  can  also  bring  to  my  feet  the  queen  of  women,  even  the 
lovely  Queen  of  the  Forest.  The  same  hand  that  entraps 
the  cunning  beaver  will  also  entrap  the  coyest  maiden. 
Envy,  liatred,  and  revenge  will  be  a  bitter  draught  for 
her  to  sip  ;  but  to  my  palate  they  are  as  sweet  as  the  am- 
brosial nectar  of  the  gods.  0,  how  can  the  throat  burned 
and  blistered  by  the  lava  flame  of  envy  be  cooled  but  by 
the  welcome  draught  of  blood,  blood,  blood  ?  ." 

And,  screaming  the  concluding  words  at  the  top  of  his 
voice,  Taurus  fell,  frothing  at  the  mouth  and  completely 
exhausted,  prostrate  upon  the  ground,  when  whiz  came 
two  stoneheaded  arrows,  one  knocking  out  one  of  the 
teeth  of  Taurus  and  the  other  going  through  the  frock 
of  Janus. 

"Blood  it  is!"  shouted  Wenane.  "Take  that  to  scour 
your  teeth  with,  ye  cowardly  varmints !  ? 

They  looked  in  the  direction  of  the  voice ;  and  there 
stood  the  young  chief,  upon  a  rock  in  the  edge  of  the  bushes, 
standing  erect  and  as  straight  as  one  of  his  own  arrows. 

*'  Come  on,  Pequawketts  !  "  cried  he  ;  "  we've  got  the 
palefaced  dogs ; "  at  the  same  time  snapping  the  dried 
sticks  and  bushes  and  imitating  a  dozen  different  voices, 
while  he  howled  like  a  wolf,  barked  like  a  fox,  and  hooted 
like  an  owl,  almost  at  one  and  the  same  breath. 

The  two  frightened  cowards  sprang  from  the  ledge 
over  an  abrupt  descent,  and  ran  violently  down  the  steep 
hill  like  their  bristly  kindred  of  old,  and  possessed  by  the 
15* 


174  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

same  spirit.  Taurus,  in  his  flight,  damaged  his  gun  upon 
a  decayed  stump  over  which  he  fell;  and  Janus  blazed 
away  at  a  lined-back  quadruped,  whose  eyes,  peering 
from  under  a  fallen  tree,  he  supposed  to  be  those  of  an 
Indian  ;  while  both  kept  on  a  dead  run,  nor  stopped  until 
they  reached  a  swamp  where  the  thicket  was  so  dense  that 
they  could  run  no  farther  ;  when  they  both  slackened  their 
pace  to  a  quick  walk,  and  soon  reached  and  entered  their 
cave,  truly  a  den  of  thieves. 

After  they  had  rested  a  while  and  recovered  enough  of 
their  breath  to  enable  them  to  speak  aloud,  — 

"  Well,"  said  Taurus,  "  one  old  brown-coated  settler  got 
settled  snugger  than  he  ever  was  before  to  this  soil ;  and 
he  won't  rise  before  the  sun  does,  111  warrant.  Only  see 
how  I  bent  my  gun  over  his  head ! " 

"  Good,"  responded  Janus  ;  "  but  did  you  see  that  squad 
of  Indians  under  the  fallen  tree  ?  One  little  pappoose,  with 
a  white  blanket  trailing  after  him,  undertook  to  crawl 
away ;  but  I  let  drive  at  him  and  keeled  him  over,  with 
his  white  blanket  atop  of  him,  though  I  hadn't  time  to 
stop  and  secure  his  scalp." 

"  Better  yet,"  said  Taurus.    "  I  thought  I  smelt  Indians." 

"  0,  yes,"  responded  Janus,  "  as  strong  as  beavers  ;  a 
whole  tribe  must  have  settled  in  there  since  we  have  been 
gone." 

"  But,  Janus,"  asked  the  other,  "  how  many  Indians  do 
you  suppose  Wenane  had  with  him  ?  " 

"  Twenty,  at  the  least  catenation,"  replied  Janus ;  "  and 
fast  runners  and  sharpshooters,  too,  by  the  quickness  with 
which  they  followed  and  discovered  us  and  by  the  way  the 
arrows  flew." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Taurus,  "  they  flew  fast  enough ;  but 
that  stoneheaded  arrow  didn't  make  my  tooth  very  fast." 

As  he  spoke  both  laughed  aloud ;  but  the  sound  that 
rung  back  from  the  dismal  walls  was  so  terrific  that  they 
sprang  upon  their  feet. 


LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA.  175 

"Strike  a  light,"  said  Taurus  ;  "for,  although  the  moon 
makes  the  entrance  of  the  cave  light  euough,  the  back  part 
is  dark  as  Egypt." 

"  No  one  has  discovered  this  retreat  ?  "  said  Janus,  in- 
quiringly. 

"  That's  what  I  was  thinking  of,"  replied  the  other. 

So,  striking  a  fire  with  gunpowder  and  dry  leaves,  they 
lighted  a  pitch-pine  torch  and  searched  the  cave,  but 
could  find  no  indication  of  its  having  been  entered  in 
their  absence. 

"Well,"  said  Taurus,  "that  young  redskin  has  probably 
discovered  my  plot,  and  overturned  the  ladle  of  solder  I 
was  preparing  for  the  morrow." 

"  I  think,"  said  Janus,  "that  you  had  better  postpone  the 
commencement  of  your  apprenticeship  for  a  few  days ;  al- 
though Wenane  could  not  have  heard  the  recital  of  your 
plot ;  for  I  was  looking  in  the  direction  from  which  he 
came  until  you  had  finished  the  scheme  and  struck  into  that 
pathetic  strain  of  envy,  snakes,  and  blood,  when  the  whole 
and  undivided  attention  of  your  audience  was  riveted  upon 
the  orator,  till  the  orator  was  well  nigh  riveted  to  the 
ground." 

"  Well,"  said  Taurus,  grinning  extensively,  but  not  dar- 
:ng  to  laugh  aloud  again,  "  we  will  delay  further  action 
for  a  day  or  two,  and  see  what  discoveries  we  can  make 
in  the  mean  time  ;  and,  if  Wenane  did  not  hear  the  plot, 
in  two  weeks  from  this  time  Rozella,  the  fair  Forest 
Queen,  the  enchantress  of  all  hearts,  shall  sleep  in  this 
cave  a  corpse  or  the  wife  of  Jack  Taurus." 

They  then,  after  a  hasty  meal  from  their  knapsacks, 
threw  themselves  upon  their  bed  of  leaves,  and  were  soon 
lost  in  restless  slumbers  and  frightful  dreams. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


The   Letter    from   the  Fortune   Teller    found   by   the   Kock.  — 
Meeting   between    Rozella  and   Wenane. 


The  next  morning  after  the  exciting  adventures  and 
occurrences  recorded  in  the  preceding  chapter  the  sun 
rose  as  brilliantly,  and  the  unclouded  sky  welcomed  the 
great  king  of  day  as  warmly,  as  though  all  the  world  was 
at  peace  and  each  man  fulfilling  the  law  of  love  to  his 
neighbor  and  of  adoration  to  his  Maker.  No  cloud  floated 
in  the  morning  sky,  and  "  the  winds  were  all  hushed  and 
the  waters  at  rest."  The  thin  and  fleecy  mists  rose  in 
wreaths  above  the  variegated  forests  like  early  incense 
offered  up  upon  the  shrine  of  Sylvia  to  "  Aurora,  the  daugh- 
ter of  the  morn." 

It  was  late  on  such  a  morn  as  this  that  a  loud  and  re- 
peated rap  upon  the  door  of  their  apartment  awoke  Rozel- 
la and  Elsie,  who,  snugly  locked  in  each  other's  arms, 
were  both  as  snugly  locked  in  the  arms  of  sleep.  Spring- 
ing up,  Rozella  demanded,  — 

"Who's  there?" 

"  It's  me,  Miss  Rozella,"  cried  a  sweet  and  feminine 
voice  at  the  door. 

At  this  kind  summons  without,  and  impelled  by  the 
cheering  messengers  of  the  sun  within,  the  young  ladies 
arose,  and,  for  the  present,  left  their  sorrows  and  their 
bed,  both  to  be  resumed  when  darkness  shall  again  over- 
dye) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  177 

shadow  them.  Rozella  speedily  opened  the  door,  when  in 
bounded  her  waiting  maid,  the  little  Owega. 

"  Well,"  said  Owega,  "  Captain  Waldron  has  gone  off 
with  the  soldiers,  and  you  can  have  all  the  day  to  your- 
self now.  Won't  have  to  use  the  fine  teathings  and  nice 
cake  to-day.  Won't  be  here  to  walk  out  in  the  garden, 
and  look  at  the  vines,  and  talk  about  the  flowers,  and  say 
the  handsomest"  one  he  ever  saw  was  in  that  garden,  when 
he  was  looking  right  in  Miss  Rozella's  eyes  —  eh  ?  " 

"  0,  fie !  "  said  Rozella,  blushing  ;  "  what  strange  things 
run  in  the  brains  of  you  young  girls  and  slip  out  from 
your  lips ! " 

"  0,  fie  ! "  retorted  Owega  ;  "  what  strange  things  run  in 
young  ladies'  eyes  and  slip  out  over  their  cheeks !  Didn't 
wet  both  handkerchiefs  on  the  table  all  through,  sopping 
wet,  wiping  the  tears  and  looking  after  the  new  captain 
last  night  —  eh  ?  Didn't  think  it  looked  very  well,  either, 
to  scold  the  big  captain  so  long  as  Miss  Rozella  did,  then 
give  him  the  new  banner  to  make  up,  then  send  him  off 
to  fight  fogs,  and  cry  about  it  afterwards  —  eh  ?  Ha ! 
ha  !  ha!  "  while  both  young  ladies  joined  in  Owega's  mer- 
riment and  laughed  as  heartily  as  herself.  But  Rozella, 
thinking  Owega  had  gone  sufficiently  far,  remarked,  pleas- 
antly, but  with  dignity,  — 

"  You  will  please  not  to  make  so  free  with  my  affairs, 
especially  before  folks." 

"  Don't  want  to  make  free,"  replied  Owega,  "  with  any 
thing  except  the  breakfast.  Mistress  sent  me  up  to  tell 
you  to  come  down  before  it  gets  cold." 

"  Tell  mother,"  said  Rozella,  "  that  we  will  be  down 
directly." 

While  the  family,  the  guests,  and  the  hired  men  sat  to- 
gether at  the  table,  the  doings  of  the  previous  evening, 
heroic,  mirthful,  and  mysterious,  and  the  breakfast,  were 
served  up  together  and  thoroughly  discussed.   After  break- 


178  LEGENDS   OF   LACOXIA. 

fast  Elsie  started  for  her  home,  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
distant.  A  mile  of  the  distance  was  upon  the  main  road  ; 
and  the  remainder  was  through  the  woods  and  over  a 
muddy  bog,  upon  which  a  rough  causeway  of  logs  was 
laid.  Rozella  and  Owega  were  to  accompany  her  to  the 
turn  of  the  road  and  wait  there  until  she  had  time  to  get 
nearly  home,  to  see  that  nothing  befell  her. 

After  they  had  left  the  house,  "  Now,  Elsie,"  said  Rozel- 
la,  "I  should  like  to  visit  the  high  rock  opposite  ;  for 
every  thing  is  so  quiet  and  still  this  morning  that  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  it  was  nothing  but  the  shadow  of  the 
high  rock  which  you  saw  last  night." 

"  I  wish  it  might  prove  to  be  nothing  more,"  replied  El- 
sie ;  "but  I  don't  believe  that  this  honest-looking  rock 
would  ever  shadow  forth  two  such  unprincipled  beings  as 
Taurus  and  Janus.  Besides,  they  have  left  characteristic 
traces  of  their  actual  presence  in  the  tobacco  stains  upon 
the  rock." 

"  0  sorrow ! "  cried  Rozella  ;  "  this  looks  bad  for  us." 
"And  it  would  taste  still  worse  than  it  looks,"  said 
Owega  ;  "  for  nobody  but  those  lower  than  brutes  would 
use  the  filthy  stuff.     But  see  here,  on  the  ground  !  " 
"  0,  it  is  a  letter,"  said  both  the  ladies  at  once, 
Elsie  caught  it  up,  and  they  read  the  superscription, 
which  made  them  both  tremble ;  for  it  was  that  dreaded 
name,  Jack  Taurus.    Elsie  opened  the  letter  as  they  pro- 
ceeded on  their  way  and  read  as  follows  :  — 

Dolly's  Island,  October  30. 

Dear  Jack,  —  You  wished  me,  if  any  turn  in  the  wheel 
of  affairs  came  up,  to  let  you  know  of  it.  At  first  I 
thought  I  would  let  each  one  that  shuffled  the  cards  cut 
for  themselves  ;  but,  as  you  have  helped  me  in  the  change 
of  luck,  I  have  concluded  to  give  a  shake  for  you.  Du- 
quesnel  has  dealt  a  blow  in  the  game  of  war  upon  Eng- 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  179 

land,  and  taken  sixty  men  at  one  jump.  England  now 
begs  of  the  settlements,  and  they  are  to  give  all  their 
Mountain  Rangers.  This  move  breaks  up  the  kingrow 
they  kept  stationed  for  the  protection  of  the  frontiers. 
They  are  to  leave  on  the  ten  spot.  Now  is  the  time  for 
you  to  turn  up  jack,  throw  out  your  boots,  and  catch  the 
Queen  of  Hearts.  You  must  conceal  your  hand,  or  the 
deuse  will  be  to  pay.  She  is  quite  low  since  Waldron  has 
made  a  strike  for  the  king  and  been  crowned  captain.- 
They  are  to  meet  the  evening  they  lead  off  at  old  Squire 
Langdell's,  and  will  take  leave  of  the  queen  with  high 
colors.  Most  of  the  soldiers  have  been  to  me  to  know 
their  destiny,  and  of  course  I  threw  out  a  promising  card 
by  telling  them  they  would  all  win  ;  so  the  board  will  be 
clear  for  you  to  make  a  move.  The  old  squire,  who  once 
sailed  like  a  majestic  swan  among  the  inferior  species  of 
aquatic  birds,  is  now  drawn  up  with  the  rheumatism  ;  so 
that  the  young  cygnet  is  unfledged,  and  her  soft,  white 
down  can  be  easily  plucked  for  a  pillow  for  a  trapper's 
head.  Be  on  hand,  then,  and  you  will  win  the  trick. 
Yours  for  the  fortune  of  life, 

Dolly  Plot. 

"  0,  what  shall  we  do  now,  dear  Rozella  ?  "  said  Elsie, 
as  she  folded  up  the  letter.  "  Another  enemy  in  ambush 
is  discovered  ;  and  one  most  malignant,  too." 

"Yes,"  sighed  Rozella,  as  the  tears  rolled  down  her 
face  ;  "  and  discovered  at  the  time,  above  all  others,  when 
we  most  needed  sympathy  and  friendship.  We  have  not 
now  the  strong  arm  of  manhood  on  which  we  can  rely  ; 
and  that  arm  on  which  we  can  alone  rely  works* by 
means." 

"  Whether  he  works  by  means  or  miracles,"  replied  El- 
sie, "  I  believe  he  will  save  those  who  trust  in  him  ;  and 
if  he  ever   did  'temper   the  wind   to  the  shorn   lanib' 


180  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

he  will  do  so  now,  or  turn  aside  the  bleak  storm  that  is 
gathering  to  discharge  itself  upon  a  head  so  defenceless 
and  a  bosom  so  pure  as  your  own." 

"  Dear  Elsie,"  said  Rozella,  "  that  arm  is  not  shortened 
that  it  cannot  save  ;  but,  as  the  operation  is  spiritual  and 
by  faith,  he  will  save  the  spirit,  it  may  be,  at  the  expense 
of  the  body.  Therefore  I  shall  suffer  as  much,  and  no 
more,  than  seems  to  him  good.  Who  knows  but  for  this 
affliction,  which  seemeth  so  grievous  for  the  present,  we 
might  be  left  to  fall  as  low  and  become  as  vile  as  the  poor 
author  of  this  letter,  the  infamous  Dolly  Plot.  0,  she 
needs  our  sympathies  and  our  prayers  rather  than  our 
anathemas." 

"  I  have  been  informed,"  said  Elsie,  "  that  before  she 
came  from  England  she  moved  in  the  first  society  and  was 
well  educated." 

"The  latter,"  said  Rozella,  "  you  may  readily  infer  from 
the  style  of  her  penmanship  and  the  elegant  formation  of 
her  letters.  But  0,  to  what  depths  of  depravity  and  guilt 
has  she  fallen !  And  I  believe  it  is  generally  the  case, 
that,  when  one  who  has  trodden  the  high  arena  of  purity 
and  intelligence  does  *  fall  from  her  high  estate,'  she 
sinks  as  much  below  the  level  of  the  common  transgressor 
as  she  had  previously  risen  above  it." 

"  But  what  can  you  do,  Rozella  ?  "  asked  Elsie.  "  Will 
you  shut  yourself  up  at  home  and  cease  your  missions  of 
mercy  and  kindness  to  the  poor?  for  since  that  horrid 
massacre  by  the  Indians  you  have  spent  nearly  all  your 
time  in  errands  of  relief  to  the  sick  and  afflicted." 

"I  shall  continue  to  do  so,"  replied  Rozella,  "until  I 
feel  it  my  duty  to  desist ;  and  that,  probably,  will  not  be 
so  long  as  the  voice  of  woe  reaches  my  ear  and  supplicates 
the  hand  of  Rozella  to  assuage  the  pain  of  the  throbbing 
brow,  or  wipe  the  bitter  tears  from  the  flowing  eyes  and 
bind  up  the  broken  heart.     I  have  one  friend  left  —  the 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  181 

true,  the  faithful  Wenane,  whom  I  long  to  see.  I  expect 
thorns  in  the  path  of  duty  ;  but,  if  I  fall,  you,  Elsie,  the 
friend  of  my  heart,  must  take  my  mantle  of  charity  and 
fill  my  place." 

They  had  now  reached  the  cross  road  ;  and,  bidding 
each  other  an  affectionate  "  Good  by."  the  young  ladies 
separated.  While  Rozella  and  her  little  waiting  maid 
stood  to  see  that  nothing  befell  Elsie  on  her  passage 
through  the  woods,  Owega  broke  the  silence  with, — 

"  I  wonder,  Miss  Rozella,  how  you  could  speak  so  kind- 
ly of  that  old  witch  upon  the  island.  I'd  speak  nothing 
but  long  knife  about  her.  I'd  make  a  hole  into  her  heart 
through  her  ribs  ;  so  that  the  kind  prayers  you  spoke  of 
would  ^et  in  without  stopping  to  knock.  Yes,  I  would. 
Prayers  won't  stick  in  her  hard  heart  unless  you  prick  'em 
in.  I'd  tattoo  it,  as  the  sailor's  arm  was  who  was  here 
the  other  day.  I'd  turn  up  her  'jacks  '  for  her,  and  play 
the  deuse  she  tells  about  with  her  old  fortune  shop.  If 
you'll  let  me  go  I'll  have  my  fortune  told  ;  and  if  nobody 
is  there,  instead  of  cutting  the  cards,  I'll  cut  the  throat  of 
the  old  witch,  so  that  she  won't  set  any  more  wolves  on 
Miss  Rozella's  track — eh?" 

"No,  no,  Owega,"  answered  Rozella;  "you  must  not 
run  on  so.  It  is  very  hard  to  bear,  I  know  ;  but  there  is 
a  better  way  than  that." 

"  What  way  ?  "  asked  Owega. 

"  To  treat  her  with  kindness,"  replied  Rozella,  "  and 
overcome  her  evil  with  good." 

"  Good ! "  exclaimed  Owega  ;  "  she  wouldn't  know  good 
if  she  should  see  it  —  eh  ?  But  look !  there  is  Wenane 
coming  through  the  woods." 

"  0,  so  it  is ! "  cried  Rozella  ;  "  and  I  am  rejoiced  to  see 
him  ;  "  and  up  came  Wenane,  sure  enough,  with  his  good- 
natured  smile  on. 

16 


182  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

"  How  glad  I  am  to  see  you,  Wenane  ! "  exclaimed  Ro- 
zella.    "How  do  you  do?" 

"  I  am  surprised  to  see  white  squaw  so  far  from  home 
this  morning,"  answered  Wenane. 

"  0,"  replied  Rozella,  "  I  am  farther  from  home  than  this 
almost  every  day.  We  are  at  peace  now,  and  we  can  ven- 
ture farther  than  we  could  when  there  was  war." 

"  I  know,"  replied  Wenane,  "  that  there  is  peace  now ; 
but  there  is  no  knowing  how  soon  the  hatchet  will  be  dug 
up  ;  for  the  Indians  are  getting  dissatisfied,  and  some  of 
the  palefaces  will  put  them  up  to  massacre  the  people  of 
the  settlements  again." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  Rozella,  "  although  from  appearances 
we  have  some  enemies  lurking  about  our  borders  now ; 
for  which  reason  I  wished  to  see  you  and  ascertain  if  you 
had  seen  any  thing  of  my  old  enemy,  Jack  Taurus,  and 
his  companion  in  guilt,  Dick  Janus.  Elsie  saw  them,  as 
she  thinks,  behind  the  rock  near  the  house  while  the  Ran- 
gers were  receiving  the  banner ;  and,  besides,  here  is  a 
letter  to  Jack  from  old  Dolly  the  fortune  teller.  Do  you 
know  any  thing  about  the  matter,  Wenane  ?  " 

"  S'pose  I  do,"  answered  he.  "  You  s'pose  Wenane 
would  let  an  enemy  of  the  Forest  Queen  be  so  near  him, 
and  he  not  know  it  ?  " 

"  But  why  did  you  not  let  me  know  of  it  ? "  asked 
Rozella. 

"  Ugh  !  "  exclaimed  Wenane  ;  "  had  rather  let  them 
know  it." 

"  Well,"  continued  Rozella,  "  do  relate  to  me  while  we 
are  on  our  way  home  what  you  know  about  it." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Wenane,  "  I  saw  Taurus  and  Janus  be- 
hind the  high  rock,  and  saw  Taurus  point  his  gun  at  the 
captain  and  laugh  at  Janus  ;  and  when  I  saw  his  scarred 
face  and  red  eye,  I  knew  Taurus  had  a  coward  with  him 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  183 

only  brave  enough  to  fight  women.  When  I  was  dancing 
on  the  doorstep  I  jumped  up  high  enough  to  see  there 
were  only  two  of  them,  and  knew  they  would  not  dare 
to  attack  the  house  till  I  had  time  to  go  home  with  big 
chief  and  return  again.  When  the  sachem  fell  asleep  I 
ran  back  and  found  all  still,  and,  knowing  they  must  have 
gone  to  the  woods,  followed  after  and  soon  heard  a  loud 
voice  like  a  preacher.  When  I  came  up  with  them  Taurus 
was  preaching  to  Janus  about  snakes  and  blood-blood  of 
young  Forest  Queen.  Then  I  took  two  arrows  —  one 
straight  on^  for  Taurus,  and  the  other  bent  just  enough  to 
hit  Janus  —  and  shot  them  both  at  once.  One  hit  Taurus 
in  the  teeth,  and  the  other  took  out  a  piece  of  Janus's 
striped  frock .; "  and  as  he  said  this  Wenane  held  up  the 
trophy  which  he  had  so  skilfully  obtained. 

"  But,"  said  Rozella,  "  did  they  *ot  offer  to  show  fight  ?  " 

"  Cowards  —  cowards  ! "  said  Wenane,  with  a  gesture 
of  great  contempt ;  "  they  can  fight  nothing  but  women  ; 
for  when  I  cracked  the  sticks  and  bushes,  and  shouted, 
•  Come  on,  Pequawketts  ! '  they  ran  as  though  the  wolves 
were  after  them.  I  knew  they  would  not  trouble  the  For- 
est Queen  that  night ;  so  I  went  back  to  the  wigwam." 

"  But,  Wenane,  are  they  not  still  lurking  about  the  set- 
tlement now,  or  did  your  arrows  frighten  them  away  ?  " 

"  I  think  they  will  be  here  again  before  they  go  back  to 
the  trappers,"  replied  Wenane. 

"  What  would  you  advise  me  to  do  ?  "  asked  Rozella  ; 
"  for  I  must  be  out  among  the  sick  and  the  poor  who  have 
lost  their  friends  and  relatives." 

"  I  think,"  said  Wenane,  -•  that  the  young  Forest  Queen 
had  better  stay  at  home  for  some  days,  while  I  look  about 
the  woods  and  get  on  track  of  the  dogs." 

For  a  number  of  6%ys  succeeding  this  interview  Wenane 
reconnoitred  the  woods  in  all  directions,  passing  from 
house  to  house  and  making  inquiries  of  all  the  settlers  in 


184  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

order  to  strike  the  trail  of  the  objects  of  his  search  ;  but 
nothing  was  discovered,  as  the  cunning  brace  ventured 
from  their  retreat  as  seldom  as  possible,  and  trapped  in- 
stead of  shooting  the  game  on  which  they  subsisted,  that 
no  report  of  arms  should  be  heard.  All  this  time  Wenane 
was  made  much  of  by  all  the  settlers,  who  not  only  flat- 
tered and  praised  him  highly,  but  also  pressed  him  to  take 
more  food  than  was  needful  or  healthful.  Chocorua  fre- 
quently cautioned  him  against  indulging  in  the  hurtful  and 
unnatural  food  of  the  whites,  telling  him  that  it  was  not 
fit  for  the  paleface's  stomach  and  was  rank  poison  to  that 
of  the  red  man. 

But  Wenane  paid  little  heed  to  his  father's  cautions, 
saying  that  while  he  was  with  white  folks  he  must  eat 
what  they  did  ;  so  Chocorua  appealed  to  the  settlers,  and 
earnestly  requested  that  they  would  not  offer  food  to  his 
son  ;  but  his  remonstrances  were  unheeded  ;  and  when 
Wenane  called  at  their  houses,  they  still  brought  forward 
their  choicest  dishes  and  stuffed  him  to  repletion. 

Rozella,  who  coincided  with  Chocorua's  views  concern- 
ing this  matter,  and  who  regarded  Wenane  as  her  chief 
stay  and  aid  in  this  hour  of  impending  danger,  joined  in 
the  appeal  to  the  settlers,  and  set  them  an  example  by 
giving  him,  when  he  was  at  the  house  of  her  father,  such 
food  only  as  she  considered  best  adapted  to  his  hitherto 
simple  habits. 

As  time  passed  on  Rozella  resumed,  though  cautiously, 
her  errands  of  kindness  through  the  settlement ;  and  so 
anxious  was  she  to  relieve  the  distress  of  others  that  she 
had  nearly  forgotten  her  own. 

Nearly  a  fortnight  had  elapsed  since  the  interview 
before  mentioned  between  Rozella  and  Wenane,  when  a 
social  party  of  ladies,  of  which  Mrs.  Langdell  was  one, 
was  held  in  an  adjoining  district.  While  this  meeting  was 
in  session  there  was,  as  is  usual  when  all  are  speakers  of 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  185 

the  house,  much  "  noise  and  confusion  "  while  the  discussion 
was  going  on  ;  but  finally  the  "  grand  committee "  rose, 
and,  according  to  ^ar/ormentary  usage,  resolved  themselves 
into  a  supplementary  body  on  internal  improvements,  which 
resolution  was  amended  by  adding  thereto  a  provision  to 
incorporate  into  the  body  of  the  bill  a  strong  article  on 
China  ;  and  the  whole  resolution,  as  amended,  passed  by 
a  unanimous  vote. 

After  a  full  and  protracted  discussion  of  the  most  ani- 
mated character,  the  first  clause  of  the  bill  was  voted  sat- 
isfactory without  a  count ;  while  the  second  it  was  finally 
agreed  to  retain  under  consideration,  that  they  might 
ascertain  on  what  grounds  it  had  been  made. 
16* 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


The  old  Tinker  and  his  Workmanship. — Rozella  has  the  Fowl 
dressed  for  the  slck. — her  description  of  blind  sarah  dljstin. 
—  Old  Mrs.  Emond.  —  Death  of  little  Henry  Gates. 


After  supper  the  tea  set  and  its  concomitants  had  of 
course  to  be  examined  and  praised  by  all  the  ladies. 

"  But  the  cost  of  Britannia  ware,"  said  one,  "  is  enor- 
mous nowadays  ;  so,  when  the  old  tinker  who  is  about  the 
settlement  called  at  my  house  yesterday,  I  let  him  mend 
all  my  tin  and  Britannia  ware,  which  is  now  just  as  good 
as  new." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  another  lady  ;  "  and  the  expense 
is  trifling  compared  to  that  of  buying  new  ware." 

"  I  wish,"  said  Mrs.  Langdell,  "  if  you  see  him  again,  you 
would  send  him  to  our  house  ;  for  I  have  a  number  of 
articles  that  need  repairing." 

"  We  will  do  so,"  replied  a  number  of  ladies  at  once ; 
"for  he  is  a  foreigner,  old  and  deaf,  and  needs  all  the 
work  he  can  get." 

A  day  or  two  after  the  party  Owega  came  running  in 
to  tell  Mrs.  Langdell  that  a  pitiful  old  lame  man  was  com- 
ing along  the  road  with  a  big  bundle  on  his  back.  Mrs. 
Langdell,  as  she  stepped  to  the  window  and  looked  out, 
replied,  "  0,  that's  the  honest  old  tinker,  I  presume  ;  for 
who  else  can  it  be  ?  " 

"Poor  man ! "  added'  Rozella  ;  "he  must  be  very  old  — 

(186) 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  187 

see  how  he  is  bent !  It  is  hard  that  he  should  be  obliged 
to  go  about  the  country  in  this  way  for  a  living.  I've  a 
good  mind  to  go  and  take  his  bundle  and  bring  it  along 
for  him." 

Presently  the  door  opened,  and  in  limped  the  tinker. 
Knowing  that  he  must  be  tired,  and  hungry,  and  thirsty, 
Mrs.  Langdell  reached  him  an  easy  chair,  while  Rozella 
brought  him  some  food  and  Owega  supplied  him  with 
drink.  Then,  with  a  French  accent,  he  inquired  for  bro- 
ken teapots  and  such  other  articles  as  needed  mending, 
which  were  brought ;  and  he  commenced  his  operations. 
But  little  conversation  passed  between  the  family  and 
himself ;  for  he  was  so  deaf  that  it  was  difficult  to  make 
him  hear  without  speaking  very  loud,  and  they  thought 
they  could  converse  freely  with  one  another  and  he  be 
none  the  wiser. 

"  0,"  said  Owega,  "  look,  Miss  Rozella,  at  the  ugly  hump 
on  his  back !  And  see  his  heavy  eyebrows  !  Why,  I  can 
hardly  see  his  eyes."   - 

"  He  is  very  old,"  said  Mrs.  Langdell ;  "  only  see  how 
gray  his  hair  is !  " 

"Yes,"  replied  Rozella,  "it  looks  very  much  like  old 
father  Crandall's  hair,  whom  the  Indians  killed  and 
scalped  when  all  of  Captain  Hilton's,  company  were 
massacred  except  Dudley,  who  was  peeling  bark  in  the 
woods." 

"I  thought  of  him,"  said  Mrs.  Langdell,  "when  I  saw 
him  coming  up  to  the  door." 
-   "  0,"  cried  Owega,  "  see  him  tremble  !  He'll  have  a  fit ! " 

They  were  all  frightened  for  a  moment;  but  he  soon 
became  composed  and  went  on  with  his  work. 

"  How  dirty  his  glasses  are  ! "  observed  Owega.  "  He 
don't  look  much  like  Captain  Waldron,  Miss  Rozella  — 
eh?" 

All  three  now  laughed  ;  but  the  teeth  of  the  old  tinker 
grated  audibly. 


1.88  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

"  What  sound  teeth  he  has/7  said  Rozella,  "  for  such  an 
old  man !  " 

"  Remarkably  good,"  replied  Mrs.  Langdell.  "  I  no- 
ticed them  when  he  first  spoke  ;  only  one  front  tooth 
gone." 

"  I  guess,"  said  Owega,  "  that  somebody  throwed  a  stone 
at  him  and  knocked  one  out,  for  I  see  his  lip  is  bruised." 

Again  did  the  tinker's  grinders  grate  together  so  vio- 
lently as  to  make  his  long,  gray  locks  tremble. 

"  Miss  Rozella,"  asked  Owega,  "  what  are  those  long 
things  there,  like  curling  tongs  ?  " 

"  0,"  replied  Rozella,  "  those  are  called  pliers." 

"  "Well,"  continued  Owega,  "  I  think  they  would  make 
good  tooth  drawers  —  almost  as  good  as  the  arrow  with 
which  Wenane  drew  Jack  Taurus's  tooth." 

Here  the  tinker  dropped  a  teapot  on  the  floor,  minus  a 
handle  ;  and  when  he  picked  it  up  it  was  minus  a  spout. 
By  this  time  his  soldering  irons  were  red  hot ;  and  when 
he  drew  them  from  the  fire  Owega  exclaimed,  — 

"  I  wish  I  could  run  that  hot  iron  through  old  Dolly's 
and  Jack  Taurus's  hearts,  and  string  them  together  as  we 
do  beads  ;  don't  you,  Miss  Rozella  ?  " 

"  0,  no,"  said  Rozella ;  "  their  hearts  are  too  rotten  for 
that,  and  they  don't  deserve  to  be  kept  in  such  an  honor- 
able way.     Their  necks  deserve  the  string  most." 

The  tinker  was  now  so  agitated  that  he  put  his  hot  iron 
clean  through  the  teapot  and  spoiled  it  entirely. 

"  No,"  said  Owega ;  "  nobody  would  keep  their  hearts  as 
long  as  we  have  kept  that  letter  from  old  Dolly  to  Taurus 
we  found  behind  the  high  rock." 

Hearing  a  noise,  they  now  looked  around,  and  saw  that 
the  tinker  had  dropped  his  irons  and  other  articles,  and 
stood,  trembling  all  over,  wiping  the  perspiration  with  one 
hand  and  fumbling  in  his  pocket  with  the  other. 

M  Gone,"  said  he,  as  if  speaking  to  himself. 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  189 

Rozella  now  picked  up  the  hot  irons,  which  were  burn- 
ing the  floor  ;  whereupon  the  tinker  turned  around  and 
muttered,  —  / 

"  Sick,  sick  ;  come  to-morrow  ;  can't  work  good  to- 
da)*.     Give  me  rag  to  wipe  irons  on." 

Owega  ran  and  brought  a  rag,  saying,  — 

"  There,  old  tinker,  take  that ;  it's  nothing  but  a  piece 
of  Dick  Janus's  old  frock,  torn  out  by  Wenane's  stone- 
headed   arrow." 

Rozella  now  spoke,  and  said  that  she  did  not  wish  him 
to  have  it,  as  she  wished  to  keep  it ;  but  before  she  could 
get  to  him  he  had  drawn  his  iron  through  it  and  put  it  in 
his  pocket.  Rozella  went  nearer  to  him,  and,  speaking 
very  loud,  said,  — 

"  I  cannot  allow  you  to  have  that  to  carry  away." 

"  Can  allow  me  to  have  it  to  carry  away,"  replied  the 
tinker;  "yes — tankee  de  lady — yes,  yes;"  and  in  spite 
of  all  her  efforts  she  could  make  him  hear  nothing  further. 
As  he  commenced  packing  up  his  tools,  one  of  the  hired 
girls  ran  in  and  asked,  — 

"  How  many  chickens  did  you  say,  Miss  Rozella,  I  must 
kill  and  dress  ?  " 

"  Two,"  replied  Rozella.  "  Owega  must  take  one  to  the 
sick  man  on  the  hill ;  and  I  shall  take  the  other  up  the 
north  road  to  Phoebe  Dudley,  who  has  been  sick  a  long 
time  and  is  very  poor.  You  may  leave  the  wings  on,  as 
they  will  serve  her  as  a  brush  with  which  to  dust  her 
hearth." 

"  How  soon  are  you  going,  Rozella  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Lang- 
dell. 

"  Directly  after  dinner  to-morrow,"  replied  Rozella,  "  so 
as  to  be  able  to  return  before  night." 

As  they  looked  at  the  tinker,  who  was  then  passing  out 
of  the  door,  they  observed  that  he  had  changed  counte- 
nance completely,  and  now  had  on  a  peculiar  broad  grin, 
as  he  said,  — 


190  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

"  Come  to-niorrow." 

"  That  grin,"  said  Rozella,  after  he  had  gone,  "  was 
nearly  as  malicious  as  that  of  Taurus." 

"  Very  much  like  it,"  rejoined  Mrs.  Langdell.  "  The 
poor  man  is  crazy,  I  suppose  ;  for  he  has  spoiled  one  tea- 
pot and  mended  nothing." 

"  I  hope,"  said  Rozella,  "  he  will  never  come  again." 

"  Why  so  ?  "  said  her  mother.  "  I  thought  your  hand 
was  always  open  to  the  poor." 

"  There  is  something  about  him  so  repulsive,"  replied 
Rozella,  "that  I  dread  to  see  him  again,  though  I  can 
hardly  tell  what  it  is.  But  my  hand  is  open  to  the  poor, 
and  I  hope  it  will  never  be  shut  to  them  ;  for  it  gives  me 
more  satisfaction  to  relieve  their  distress  than  they  feel  in 
being  relieved.  And,  now  I  think  of  it,  I  must  carry  old 
Mrs.  Emond  something  to-morrow.  There  she  lives,  all 
alone,  in  that  miserable  old  hovel,  completely  bent  down 
with  age,  and  so  blind,  too,  that  she  can  hardly  see  any 
thing,  with  no  one  to  help  her  or  hardly  to  speak  a  kind 
word  to  her  for  months  at  a  time.  Her  friends  are  alt 
dead,  and  she  has  no  children  to  visit  her  ;  and  there  she 
sits,  from  morning  till  night,  with  her  feet  in  the  ashes, 
covered  with  gloom  and  bathed  in  tears.  0  mother,  my 
heart  leaps  with  joy  to  make  that  wrinkled  old  face  beam 
again  with  radiant  smiles  of  heartfelt  enjoyment.  And 
how  affectionately  she  thanks  me  !  Mother,  I  had  rather 
have  the  pleasure  I  feel  when  she  comes  up  to  me,  smiling 
through  her  tears,  and,  laying  her  trembling  hand,  with 
its  sinews  and  blood  vessels,  upon  my  head,  says,  with  up- 
raised eyes, '  God  bless  you,  my  child ! '  than  to  have  the 
Pope  of  Rome  place  a  queenly  crown  upon  my  brow  and 
say,  '  I  crown  you  lawful  sovereign  of  all  these  broad  do- 
minions.' And  there  is  poor,  blind  Sarah  Dustin,  who  is 
the  very  imbodiment  of  loveliness.  When  the  children  tell 
her  I  am  coming  she  hurries  out  with  both  arms  extended 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  191 

wide,  so  that  I  may  not  pass  by  her  \  and  throwing  her 
arms  like  binding  chains  of  love  around  me,  and,  covering 
me  with  kisses,  says  that  I  ought  to  be  called  Rosebud  in- 
stead of  Rozella.  And  when  I  make  my  little  present 
and  turn  to  leave  her  she  sheds  tears  both  of  sorrow  and 
delight,  as  if  her  tender  heart  needed  those  chains  of  love 
to  be  bound  around  it.  What  are  all  the  chains  of  gold 
which  city  ladies  wear  compared  with  such  pure  embraces 
of  love  divine  ?  And  how  much  pleasure  did  I  take  in 
administering  to  the  childish  wants  of  little  Henry  Gates 
in  his  last  sickness  !  There  he  lay  on  his  forsaken  straw 
bed  —  no  one  to  allay  his  anguish  or  smooth  his  dying  pil- 
low. His  father  had  just  died  from  the  wounds  he  had  re- 
ceived in  the  last  battle  with  the  Indians  ;  and  his  mother 
was  so  lame  and  feeble  that  she  was  unable  to  wait  on  him, 
and  had  nothing  to  give  him,  either,  save  the  few  unsuita- 
ble articles  of  food  which  the  neighbors  brought  him. 
His  features,  wan  and  wasted,  wore  a  most  ghastly  look  ; 
and  when  I  went  to  him,  and  moistened  his  lips,  and  wiped 
the  cold  death  damps  from  his  brow,  he  knew  me,  and, 
raising  his  eyes,  said, —  • 

""Zella,  shall  I  die?' 

"I  told  him  that  he  probably  would,  and  that  soon  ;  but 
that  there  was  a  Friend  beyond  the  grave  who  would  re- 
ceive him  and  welcome  him  to  a  higher  and  happier  world. 

"  -  Do  stay  with  me,  'Zella,'  said  he  ;  '  for  you  have 
driven  away  the  dreadful  pain  from  my  head  and  heart, 
too  ; '  and  as  he  said  this  his  countenance  changed,  and  he 
put  on  one  of  the  sweetest  smiles  that  any  save  an  angel 
ever  wore.  In  a  few  hours  his  breath  left  him,  but  not 
that  heavenly  smile  ;  for,  though  he  lay  cold,  coffined,  and 
solitary,  there  was  nought  of  gloom  upon  his  brow  ;  but 
he  seemed  to  smile  with  triumphant  exultation  upon  the 
foe  who  had  just  slain  him.  I  could  almost  fancy  I  saw 
his  lips  move  and  say,  '  'Zella.  T  have  conquered,  though  I 


192  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

have  fallen.'  That  smile  was  sweeter  than  the  little  wild 
flower  I  placed  in  his  marble  hand  ;  and  it  still  rested  on 
his  face  when  we  laid  him  in  the  grave,  whose  gloom  and 
darkness  it  seemed  to  chase  away.  Since  then  I  have 
never  looked  upon  death  but  with  composure,  nor  upon 
the  grave  but  with  complacency.  0,  has  not  that  deed 
of  charity  reacted  in  peace  and  joy  upon  my  heart  a  thou- 
sand fold  ? 

"  Yes  ;  love  alone  is  the  oar  with  which  the  soul,  as  it 
embarks  upon  the  unknown  waters  of  death,  can  stem  its 
roaring  surges  and  reach  the  haven  of  its  final  rest. 
There  shall  all  tears  of  joy  shed  for  deeds  of  love  and 
charity  in  the  obscure  and  lowly  cottages  of  the  virtuous 
poor  be  changed  to  starry  diamonds  in  the  crown  of  its 
rejoicing,  whose  brilliant  rays  shall  gleam  with  quench- 
less glory  amid  the  radiant  splendors  of  heaven  forever 
and  ever." 

Here  Rozella  paused  for  her  mother  to  reply  ;  but,  as 
she  did  not,  she  looked  up  and  saw  her  sitting  with  her 
handkerchief  to  her  eyes,  weeping  profusely.  Rozella 
started  to  her  feet,  and,  in  alarm,  asked,  • — 

" Mother,  are  you  ill?" 

As  soon  as  Mrs.  Langdell  could  command  her  voice  suffi- 
ciently to  speak  she  replied,  — 

"  No,  Rozella  ;  never  happier  than  at  present ;  "  and,  im- 
printing a  fond  kiss  upon  her  daughter's  brow,  left  the 
room. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Rainy  Morning.  —  Rozella's  Departure  on  her  Errand  op  Mercy. 
—  Her  Capture  by  Taurus  and  Janus,  and  her  Rescue  by  Wb- 

NANE. 

The  next  morning  it  rained  heavily,  and  the  thick 
clouds  hung  low  over  the  adjoining  forests,  while  the 
mountains  were  completely  hidden  in  their  dense  and 
murky  folds.  The  pattering  raindrops  upon  the  fallen 
leaves  and  the  wild  whistle  of  the  wind  through  the  bare 
branches  of  the  trees  seemed  to  play  the  death  march  of 
the  Indian  summer,  whose  life,  though  brief,  had  been  joy- 
ous, and  who,  now  that  all  else  was  withered  and  fading, 
seemed  content  to  die. 

Though  the  family  of  Squire  Langdell  was  tranquil 
and  cheerful,  they  could  hardly  avoid  feeling  somewhat 
depressed  by  the  gloom  without.  Even  honest  Jowler, 
the  faithful  watchdog,  seemed  to  catch  the  contagion,  and 
whined  uneasily  as  he  lay  in  his  accustomed  corner,  as  if 
impatient  of  his  confinement.  A  bountiful  breakfast,  how- 
ever, seemed  to  dispel,  in  some  degree,  the  gloom  from 
their  drooping  spirits,  and  as  the  conversation  became 
more  general  and  animated  Mrs.  Langdell  remarked,  — 

"  Rozella,  you  will  hardly  be  able  to  go  out  on  your 
visit  of  charity  to-day." 

"  I  was  just  thinking,"  said  Rozella,  "  that  the  more 
gloomy  the  day  the  more  acceptable  and  welcome  would 
17  W 


194  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

seem  the  presents  ;  and  the  more  barriers  surmounted  in 
the  path  of  duty  the  clearer  the  destitute  would  see  that 
we  felt  and  cared  for  them.  But  I  cannot  go  if  it  con- 
tinues to  rain  as  hard  as  it  now  does.  But  you  know, 
mother,  you  have  frequently  told  us  that,  when  it  rains  so 
violently  in  the  morning,  it  generally  clears  up  by  noon  ; 
and  I  am  in  hopes  that,  in  this  case  at  least,  your  theory 
may  be  confirmed  by  the  result.  In  the  mean  time  I  will 
stitch  up  those  little  rents  in  that  thick  brown  shawl  and 
carry  it  to  Mrs.  Emond  ;  it  will  make  her  so  comfortable 
the  coming  winter.  I  was  thinking  of  starting  before 
dinner,  and  going  round  by  Mr.  Tufton's  for  Elsie  ;  but 
if  it  clears  off  I  think  I  shall  go  alone,  as  she  may  not 
wish  to  go  out  when  the  ground  is  so  wet  and  cold." 

"  I  wish  she  were  here,"  said  Mrs.  Langdell,  "  to  accom- 
pany you." 

"  So  do  I,"  replied  Rozella  ;  "  but  as  she  is  not,  I  must 
try  to  get  along  without  her  ;  and,  moreover,  it  is  so 
stormy  that  none  of  my  lurking  foes  will  be  abroad  to- 
day." 

In  accordance  with  the  prediction  of  Mrs.  Langdell  and 
the  wishes  of  Rozella,  before  noon  the  rain  had  ceased 
and  the  waters  were  abated  from  the  face  of  the  earth  ; 
and  then  the  White  Pigeon  with  her  olive  branch  de- 
parted, not  for,  but  from,  her  ark  of  safety.  She  was  clad, 
as  usual,  in  garments  of  her  own  manufacture,  having  on 
a  russet  loose  gown,  or  tunic,  extending  several  inches 
below  the  waist,  where  it  was  confined  by  an  ornamented 
girdle  wrought  by  her  own  skilful  needle,  and  terminated 
in  a  scolloped  flounce.  The  sleeves  terminated  in  an 
embroidered  cuff,  beneath  which  a  fan-shaped  linen  frill 
slid  out  upon  her  hands,  which  were  encased  in  white  knit 
worsted  gloves,  upon  the  back  of  which  the  figure  of  a 
vase  containing  roses  was  worked  in  colors  of  red,  pink, 
and  green.    The  border  of  her  skirt  was  ornamented  with 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  195 

variegated  stripes  of  blue  and  white,  laid  upon  an  amber 
ground ;  and  upon  her  feet  were  thick  calfskin  gaiters, 
which  bade  defiance  to  the  cold,  wet  ground.  Upon  her 
head  she  wore  a  small  cloth  cap,  with  a  beaver-skin  puff 
around  the  edge  and  a  little  rosette  of  thin  scarlet  flannel 
upon  the  crown. 

Thus  arrayed  she  tripped  along  the  muddy  road,  with 
her  Indian  basket  upon  her  arm  containing  the  shawl  and 
the  fowl  designed  as  a  gift  for  Mrs.  Emond  and  Dudley. 
She  presently  left  the  main  road  and  struck  into  a  by-path, 
which  led  around  a  little  pond  and  over  a  small  brook  to 
the  north  road,  on  which  the  old  lady  lived. 

She  felt  quite  buoyant  and  cheerful  until  she  struck  into 
the  dark  woods,  where  the  dense  bushes  and  the  giant 
trees  dripping  with  rain  looked  so  wild  and  gloomy  that 
she  felt  timid,  and  turned  to  go  back.  But  as  she  reflected 
how  frequently  she  had  traversed  the  same  path  unharmed, 
she  resolved  to  cast  off  her  foolish  fears,  and,  retracing 
her  steps,  again  hurried  on.  As  she  did  so  she  thought 
of  Wenane,  and  wished  that  he  was  there  to  be  her  pro- 
tector on  her  lonely  way  ;  and  as  she  had  not  seen  him  for 
a  number  of  days,  and  as  that  was  the  way  he  generally 
came,  she  hoped  she  might  soon  meet  him. 

This  thought  somewhat  cheered  her  spirits,  and  she 
went  forward  more  confidently.  In  a  few  moments  she 
heard  steps  behind  her,  and,  looking  back,  saw  a  tall,  stout 
man,  who  seemed  a  stranger,  coming  hurriedly  along  the 
path.  He  had  a  large  handkerchief  tied  high  about  his 
face  and  covering  his  mouth  and  nose,  while  a  foxskin 
cap  was  pressed  down  over  his  eyes  until  the  cap  and 
muffler  almost  met.  Rozella  was  much  frightened  ;  but 
observing  that  he  had  a  fishing  rod  and  a  box  containing 
bait  which  he  was  just  returning  to  his  pocket,  she  felt 
reassured  again,  saying  to  herself,  "  Surely  an  honest  fish- 
erman will  do  me  vo  harm." 


196  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

He  soon  overtook  her,  and  in  a  hoarse,  husky  voice  said, 
"  Wet  day,  young  woman." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Rozella,  without  raising  her  eyes. 

"  Bad  luck  I've  had  fishing  to-day,"  pursued  the  man ; 
"  I've  caught  nothing,  not  even  had  a  nibble  before  ;  but 
I  think  I  shall  catch  an  aleicife  now ; "  at  the  same  time 
coming  directly  up  to  her  and  laying  his  heavy  hand  upon 
her  shoulder. 

With  a  shudder  which  shook  her  entire  frame  Rozella 
sprang  out  from  under  his  grasp,  and  ran  with  all  her 
speed  along  the  narrow  path.  She  gained  rapidly  upon 
her  pursuer,  and  was  fast  distancing  iiim  when  another 
man  darted  from  behind  a  tree  into  the  path  before  her. 
She  cast  one  glance  at  him,  and  to  her  utter  horror  saw 
the  scarred  cheek  and  red  fallen  eyelid  of  Dick  Janus. 

She  turned  directly  about,  and  sought  to  escape  the 
fisherman  by  darting  by  him ;  but  he  had  thrown  off  his 
disguise,  and  she  was  caught  and  held  fast  by  the  huge 
paw  of  Jack  Taurus.  She  screamed  in  agony  for  deliver- 
ance ;  but  no  reply  was  made  to  her  shrieks  save  by  the 
woods,  which  alone  rung  back  in  dismal  echoes  an  answer 
to  her  bitter  wailings. 

"  It's  no  use,"  said  Taurus,  "  chirp,  cry,  and  flutter  as  you 
will. 

I've  watched  you  long — you're  mine  at  last ; 
Poor  little  thing !  you'll  'scape  no  more. 

You  have  left  your  home  for  the  last  time,  and  will  now 
be  Queen  of  the  Forest  in  good  earnest.  Come,  start 
along." 

Meanwhile  Janus  had  torn  the  cover  off  the  basket,  and, 
discovering  the  chicken,  cried  out,  "  Halloo !  here's  some- 
thing which  will  do  for  our  supper  after  we  reach  the  cave 
to  which  we  are  now  going." 

"  I  shall  go  to  no  cave,"  said  Rozella.    "  This  fowl  I 


LEGENDS   OP  LACONIA.  197 

am  carrying  to  a  sick  woman  ;  and  I  demand  of  you 
that  you  let  me  proceed  on  my  errand  of  mercy  unmo- 
lested." 

"  Your  errand  of  mercy,"  said  Taurus,  "  will  lead  you 
directly  to  our  cave  in  the  mountain,  where  you  will  be- 
come the  merciful  wife  of  Jack  Taurus." 

"Never!"  cried  Rozella.  "I  will  sooner  become  the 
prey  of  the  howling  wolf." 

"  March  along,"  said  Taurus,  giving  her  a  rough  push. 

"  Never ! "  screamed  Rozella,  at  the  same  time  struggling 
with  her  utmost  strength  to  release  herself. 

"  The  rope !  the  rope ! "  cried  Taurus  ;  and  Janus,  draw- 
ing from  his  pocket  a  stout  cord,  passed  it  under  her  gir- 
dle, when  Taurus  exclaimed,  "Not  there  —  not  there  ;  her 
neck  deserves  the  string  most,  and  around  that  it  shall  be 
tied." 

"  0,"  cried  Rozella,  as  the  cold,  wet  cord  was  fastened 
around  her  slender  white  neck,  "  I  beg  for  mercy.  Let  mo 
go,  or  my  heart  will  break  and  fall  at  your  feet." 

"No,  no,"  laughed  Taurus,  tauntingly,  " it  won't  break 
or  fall ;  it's  not  rotten  enough  for  that ;  it  must  be  strung 
like  beads,  not  on  the  hot  soldering  iron  of  the  honest 
old  tinker,  but  upon  the  soft  and  silken  cord  of  matri- 
mony." 

On  looking  more  closely  at  the  wretch  as  he  thus  spoke, 
Rozella  saw  that  the  "  honest  old  tinker  "  and  Jack  Taurus 
were  one  and  the  same  person. 

"  Yillanous  impostor  ! "  cried  she,  "  thus  to  deceive  me 
by  your  infamous  plot." 

"  Ha !  ha ! "  sneered  Taurus  ;  "  but  you  were  not  deceived 
when  you  supposed  my  hair  was  the  scalp  of  old  father 
Crandall.  Come,  quicken  your  pace,"  added  he,  seizing 
one  end  of  the  rope  and  Janus  the  other,  while  the  middle 
encircled  the  swanlike  neck  of  Rozella.  Then  with  great 
gusto  they  struck  into  a  travesty  of  the  song, — 
17* 


198  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

"  0  gallant  chief !  for  our  relief 
"We've  raised  the  flower  of  the  land. 
Eat  tat  tat,"  &c; 

The  only  hope  to  which  Kozella  now  clung  was  that 
they  would  meet  Wenane. 

"  Janus,"  said  Taurus,  "  have  we  not  got  almost  to  the 
cross  path  the  Indians  used  to  take  to  the  mountain  ?  " 

"  Nearly,"  was  the  reply ;  "  we  shall  be  there  soon ;  and 
then  we'll  hamper  her  with  the  fish  line  as  they  do  sheep. 
That  will  be  the  best  way  to  string  her." 

"  Yes,"  chuckled  Taurus,  "  we'll  lead  her  like  a  lamb  to 
the  fold." 

Rozella's  presence  of  mind  did  not  desert  her  in  this 
emergency ;  and  she  embraced  every  opportunity  to  step 
where  the  soil  was  muddiest,  that  Wenane  might  be  sure 
to  see  her  track. 

"  Here  is  the  cross  road,"  said  Janus,  as  he  turned  off 
the  path. 

"  Stop ! "  said  Rozella.  "  I  shall  go  no  farther  between 
two  thieves.    Both  of  you  must  go  before  me." 

Somewhat  nettled  at  her  bold  remark,  and  thinking  it 
would  do  no  harm  to  humor  her,  they  preceded  her,  still 
holding  fast  upon  the  rope. 

"  Come  on,"  said  Taurus  ;  and  all  turned  into  the  path 
leading  to  the  mountain. 

At  the  time  this  cross  path  was  first  mentioned  Rozella 
put  her  hand  unobserved  into  her  basket,  and  plucked 
from  the  wing  of  the  fowl  two  large  feathers  and  one  of 
smaller  size,  which,  as  soon  as  their  faces  were  turned,  she 
placed  in  the  road,  with  the  quills  pointing  in  the  direc- 
tion they  were  going.  She  knew  the  Indian  sagacity  of 
Wenane,  should  he  come  that  way,  would  not  only  enable 
him  to  tell  the  direction  they  had  taken,  but  also  the  num- 
ber of  her  captors. 

After  taking  the  cross  path  they  hurried  her  on  through 


LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA.  199 

the  wet  and  tangled  bushes  until  her  dress,  so  neat  and 
spotless  at  her  setting  out,  was  completely  staked  by  the 
water  and  bedraggled  in  every  part.  After  they  had 
gone  nearly  two  miles  they  came  in  sight  of  an  elbow  in 
the  pond,  to  avoid  which  they  struck  directly  into  the 
pathless  forest  for  a  high  ridge  of  land  above  the  pond. 
AlS  her  leaders  turned  into  the  woods  Rozella,  as  quick  as 
thought,  placed  another  large  feather  across  the  path, 
pointing  out  the  direction  as  before.  She  also  broke  a 
bush,  and  left  it  pointing  the  same  way. 

As  they  proceeded  the  last  hope  of  Rozella  began  to 
falter  ;  and  in  order  to  delay  their  course  as  long  as  pos- 
sible, she  begged  them  to  stop  and  remove  the  galling 
rope  from  her  lacerated  and  bleeding  neck.  Taurus 
replied  that  they  would  remove  it  if  she  would  go  along 
quietly  as  she  ought. 

"  I  will  go  as  I  ought,"  replied  Rozella. 

They  were  now  about  four  miles  from  the  place  where 
she  had  left  the  first  feathers  ;  and  as  they  thought  that, 
as  she  could  not  find  the  way  back,  she  would  rather  pro- 
ceed than  try  to  return,  they  ventured  to  remove  the  rope. 
A  few  rods  brought  them  out  upon  a  sandy  ridge,  where 
there  was  neither  tree,  nor  bush,  nor  shrub  ;  and,  casting 
her  eyes  forward,  Rozella  saw  a  sort  of  cove  of  the  pond, 
where  the  water  seemed  to  have  flowed  back.  It  was  a 
muddy,  miry  bog,  covered  with  dead,  stagnant  water  ;  and 
she  thought  that  perhaps  it  would  support  her  weight, 
while  her  pursuers  would  sink  if  they  ventured  upon  it. 
She  was  about  to  start  for  the  marsh  when  the  huge  hand  of 
Taurus  again  fell  upon  her  shoulder  ;  and  he  exclaimed, — 

"  Stop  ;  let  us  sit  down  on  this  rock  and  rest.  This 
place/'  said  he,  as  he  pulled  her  down  by  his  side,  "  is  a 
fine  location.  See  how  it  overlooks  the  whole  of  the  lake, 
and  commands  a  full  view  of  the  mountains  in  oup  rear ! 
Ain't  it,  Rozella,  a  grand  spot  for  a  house  ?    Here  I  shall 


200  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

build  me  a  house,  and  you  and  I  shall  pass  many  a  happy 
day  upon  thi»  spot  as  man  and  wife." 

"  Never  —  never !  "  cried  Rozella.  "  I  will  die  a  thou- 
sand deaths  first !  " 

"  You  cannot  help  yourself,"  said  Taurus.  "  The  same 
rope  that  led  you  to  the  woods  shall  bind  you  in  yonder 
cave  under  the  mountain  until  you  submit,  and  that  will- 
ingly, too,  to  become  my  wife  and  obey  all  my  commands." 

"  But  I  see,"  said  Janus,  "  the  little  bird  has  torn  her 
dress  very  badly  ;  but  she  can  mend  it,  no  doubt,  as  she 
has  great  skill  with  her  needle.  And  here  is  a  piece  of 
my  frock,  torn  out  by  a  stone  ;  she  shall  sew  it  in  to- 
night. It  is  somewhat  scorched  by  a  tinker's  hot  iron ; 
but  I  guess  it  will  answer  the  purpose  well  enough." 

"  0,"  said  Taurus,  laughing  boisterously,  "  she  must  not 
have  that  to  carry  away,  any  how." 

Kozella  then  saw  that  it  was  the  same  piece  which  had 
been  torn  out  by  Wenane's  arrow,  given  to  herself  by  him, 
and  carried  off  by  the  old  tinker. 

"  I  shall  never  soil  my  hands,"  said  Rozella,  "  by  allow- 
ing them  to  come  in  contact  with  the  dirty  frock  of  Ja- 
nus, contaminated  as  it  is  by  the  still  fouler  person  of  its 
wearer." 

"  We  will  settle  that  matter  after  we  reach  the  cave  ; 
so  start  along ; "  and  himself  and  Taurus  arose  to  their 
feet. 

"  Didn't  you  hear  ? "  roared  Taurus  to  Rozella,  who 
still  remained  seated.  "  Start,  I  say ! "  at  the  same  time 
giving  her  a  rap  over  the  shoulders  with  his  fishing  rod. 

"  Not  another  step,"  said  Rozella,  firmly,  and  looking 
him  in  the  eye  with  a  sternness  which  caused  him  to  quail 
beneath  its  indignant  glance.  Then,  taking  from  her  bas- 
ket a  piece  of  brown  paper,  upon  which  she  pencilled  a 
few  lines,  she  tossed  it  towards  Taurus,  saying,  "  You  will 
at  least  have  humanity  enough  to  give  this  to  my  friends, 
that  they  may  know  my  fate." 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  201 

"  Pshaw  !  "  sneered  Taurus  ;  "  better  send  old  Dolly's 
letter." 

"The  rope  —  the  rope!"  shouted  Taurus  ;  and  both 
started  for  the  rope,  which  lay  upon  an  adjoining  rock. 
At  that  instant  she  darted  from  them  and  ran  with  all  the 
speed  of  which  she  was  capable  towards  the  marsh.  They 
both  followed  in  hasty  pursuit ;  but  while  Taurus  gained 
upon  her  rapidly,  Janus,  not  being  so  fleet  a  runner  as  his 
comrade,  fell  far  behind.  Taurus,  knowing  by  her  course 
that  she  intended  to  destroy  herself,  exerted  himself  to  the 
utmost  to  overtake  and  recapture  her  before  she  should 
accomplish  her  purpose.  She  felt  his  hot  breath  upon  her 
neck  ;  and  as  she  came  upon  the  edge  of  the  morass  she 
saw  that  it  was  too  soft  and  muddy  to  support  even  her 
light  weight ;  and  instantly  and  almost  instinctively  she 
threw  herself  flat  upon  the  ground,  and 

Over  her  head  she  threw  the  tinker, 
Hook  and  line,  bob  and  sinker. 

For,  as  she  fell,  Taurus,  who  was  not  able  to  check  his 
headlong  speed,  stumbled  over  her  prostrate  form  and 
pitched  headforemost  into  the  miry  bog.  As  quick  as 
thought  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  and,  turning  about,  found 
herself  in  the  arms  of  Wenane,  whose  powerful  foot  had 
also  aided  in  Taurus's  precipitate  downfall. 

Wenane,  in  passing  through  the  woods  that  afternoon, 
had  discovered  the  feathers  in  the  path,  as  well  as  the 
broken  bushes,  and  was  not  long  in  unravelling  the  mys- 
tery. Following  on  the  trail,  he  reached  one  end  of  the 
sandy  ridge  just  as  the  stampede  commenced  at  the  other 
extremity.  By  taking  the  hypothenuse  of  the  angle  he 
reached  the  line  on  which  they  were  running  just  in  time 
to  intercept  Janus,  whom  he  struck  much  harder  than  he 
did  the  line  j  for  he  knocked  him  more  than  forty-five 


202  LEGENDS  OF  .LACONIA. 

degrees  out  of  the  line  of  perpendicularity,  and  left  him 
stunned  and  senseless  on  the  ground. 

After  the  prompt  assistance  he  had  rendered  Taurus  in 
his  froglike  leap  into  the  slimy  pool  of  his  more  respecta- 
ble kindred,  and  where  he  lay  sprawling  and  floundering 
in  the  mire,  bellowing  lustily  for  help,  Wenane  hastened 
back  with  Rozella  to  give  his  first  pupil  another  striking 
illustration- of  the  momentum  of  moving  bodies  impinging 
in  a  right  line  upon  another  body  also  in  motion.  But  he 
was  sufficiently  enlightened  on  that  point,  and  was  just 
trying  to  use  his  dividers,  though  his  figures  were  some- 
what unsteady  ;  and  in  his  efforts  to  regain  his  perpendic- 
ular position  he  again  and  again  was  obliged  to  illustrate 
the  principles  of  mensuration,  in  the  demonstration  of 
which  he  more  than  once  spilt  his  red  ink  upon  the  ground. 


CHAPTER    XXI 


Return  of  Rozella  and  Wenane,  and  their  Interview  with  thb 
Family.  —  Wenane's  Sickness.  —  Determination  of  Squire  Lang- 
dell  to  capture  Taurus  and  Janus.  —  The  Success  of  the  Settlers 
in  their  Capture  of  the  same. 


Wenane  and  Rozella  then  turned  their  faces  homeward  ; 
and,  as  it  was  nearly  night,  they  were  obliged  to  make  all 
haste  to  reach  the  main  road  before  darkness  should  over- 
take them. 

As  Wenane  stopped  and  seated  himself  upon  a  rock  to 
rest,  Rozella  for  the  first  time  discovered  that  he  was 
quite  pale  and  trembled  violently.  In  great  alarm,  she 
inquired  the  meaning  of  his  unusual  pallor  and  agitation. 

"  Do  not  be  frightened,"  replied  he ;  "  it  is  nothing  new  ; 
but  my  fast  run  just  now  has  been  too  much  for  sick  Indian. 
Chocorua,  you  know,  thinks  my  sickness  owing  to  the 
white  man's  food.  Whether  it  is  so  or  not  I  cannot  say  ; 
but  I  have  now  become  so  fond  of  it  that  I  must  continue 
its  use  or  eat  nothing.  I  have  no  relish  for  food  prepared 
in  the  Indian  mode  ;  and  sometimes  I  am  obliged  to  leave 
my  father's  wigwam  when  he  is  preparing  his  favorite 
dishes.  I  am  very  weak,  having  taken  nothing  but  a 
little  broth  to-day  ;  but  when  I  came  along  on  my  horse, 
feeling  too  feeble  to  walk,  and  saw  the  signals  you  had 
left  for  me  to  hasten  to  your  assistance,  my  weakness  was 
gone  in  a  minute,  and  I  felt  as  strong  as  a  mountain  bear, 

(203) 


204  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

and  twice  as  bold  and  daring  :  and  I  should  not  have 
thought  of  my  sickness  again  until  the  Forest  Queen  was 
rescued  or  Wenane  had  fallen  exhausted." 

Rozella  was  much  affected  at  his  recital  ;  but  Wenane 
entreated  her  not  to  be  uneasy  on  his  account,  for  that  he 
now  felt  better,  and  they  would  be  able  to  reach  the  main 
road  by  dark. 

H  And  your  horse  is  there,  you  say,  Wenane  ?  V  said 
Rozella. 

"  Yes,"  was  his  reply. 

"  I  am  glad  of  that,"  added  she  ;  "  for  you  can  ride  as 
soon  as  we  reach  him." 

"  Yes  ;  and  so  can  Rozella,"  replied  Wenane. 

They  now  proceeded  on  their  way  and  soon  reached 
the  horse,  who  seemed  as  much  pleased  at  their  arrival  as 
themselves,  and  manifested  his  pleasure  by  loud  and  re- 
peated neighings.  Both  mounted  the  horse,  and  in  a  short 
time  arrived  safe  at  Squire  Langdell's  just  as  the  family 
were  sitting  down  to  supper.  Squire  Langdell  had  just 
returned  from  Boston,  whither  he  had  gone  in  a  vessel 
from  Portsmouth  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  Elsie  Tuf- 
ton  had  also  called  there  on  one  of  her  friendly  visits  so 
agreeable  to  Rozella  as  well  as  to  the  famiiy  generally. 
The  squire  had  good  news  for  Rozella  from  Captain  Wal- 
dron ;  and  all  joined  right  heartily  in  the  melange  of  chat, 
cheer,  and  chowder. 

During  the  supper  the  squire  had  monopolized  all  the 
time  in  relating  the  wonders  he  had  seen  in  Boston  and 
on  his  voyage,  and  the  assurance  felt  by  the  people  of 
Massachusetts  generally  that  the  expedition  to  Louisburg 
would  result  in  a  glorious  victory. 

After  they  had  risen  from  the  table,  —  "  Well,  Rozella," 
said  the  squire,  "  on  what  circuit  have  you  been  riding 
to-day?" 

"  I  started,"  was  her  reply,  "  after  the  rain  ceased,  for 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  205 

the  north  road,  to  carry  a  fowl  to  Phoebe  Dudley,  and  a 
shawl  to  old  Mrs.  Ernond." 

"And  you  have  been  all  that  distance  this  wet,  muddy 
day  ?  "  said  the  squire,  laughing.  "  Well,  you  are  a  queer 
chick  :  but  you  have  done  somebody  some  service,  I  hope." 

Rozella  opened  her  basket,  and,  holding  up  the  fowl, 
replied,  — 

"Not  so  queer  a  chick  as  this,  after  all;  nor  have  I 
done  such  good  service  to-day  as  this  little  creature,  which, 
you  see,  has  shed  its  wing  feathers." 

"  Why,  how  is  this  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Langdell  ;  "  would  not 
Phoebe  accept  your  offering  ?  If  our  poor  folks  are  above 
taking  presents,  I  guess  the  times  are  going  to  be  better, 
as  the  Boston  people  predict." 

"  Times  are  decidedly  better  with  me,"  answered  Rozel- 
la, "  than  they  were  a  few  hours  since." 

"  The  wolves  have  chased  her ! "  cried  Mrs.  Langdell. 

"  The  bears,  more  likely,"  suggested  the  squire. 

"I  guess,"  said  Owega,  "Miss  Rozella  has  seen  the 
strange  Indians." 

"  Perhaps,"  remarked  Elsie,  "  a  combination  of  all  these, 
in  the  shape  of  Taurus  and  Janus." 

"  Yes,  Elsie,"  replied  Rozella ;  "  you  have  guessed  it." 

Then  came  the  chorus  of  voices  from  all,  "How  was  it? 
Where  did  you  meet  them  ?  And  how  did  you  escape  ?  " 

All  were  now  silent  and  attentive,  and  Rozella  re- 
hearsed the  story  of  her  adventures. 

"  Miss  Rozella,"  said  Owega,  as  the  recital  was  finished, 
"  do  you  suppose  Taurus  got  out  again  ?  " 

"  I  presume  so,"  answered  Rozella  ;  "  the  last  I  saw  of 
him  he  was  scrambling  along  on  his  hands  and  knees 
towards  a  spot  where  the  ground  appeared  firmer  and  the 
mud  seemed  to  bear  him  up  better." 

"  Well,"  responded  Owega,  "  I  hope  he  didn't  get  to  the 
shore ;  for  he  ought  to  be  buried  there,  where  the  frogs 
18 


206  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

and  toads  would  croak  over  him  and  the  snakes  hiss  at 
him." 

"I  think,"  said  Elsie,  "it  would  be  an  appropriate 
burial-place  ;  for,  as  he  once  lived  upon  and  ate  snakes 
and  other  loathsome  reptiles,  it  is  no  more  than  fair,  now 
that  filth  has  returned  to  filth,  that  they  should  eat  him. 
And,  as  Owega  remarked,  the  sharp  hiss  of  the  serpents, 
and  the  gruff,  guttural  bass  of  the  frogs,  will  be  a  fitting 
requiem." 

"He  is  himself  a  venomous  serpent,"  observed  Mrs. 
Langdell ;  "  and  I  do  not  suppose  his  falling  over  Rozella 
would  deprive  him  of  life,  especially  when  he  lodged  in 
his  own  native  and  congenial  element." 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  squire  ;  "  Hercules  himself  could  not 
have  crushed  this  hydra-headed  monster  as  easily  as  he 
destroyed  those  of  the  same  genus  that  came  up  from  the 
Lernian  Lake  in  Peloponnesus.  However,"  continued  the 
squire,  "  if  they  are  worth  talking  about  they  are  worth 
hunting  for  ;  and  although  we  may  not  be  able,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  Mountain  Rangers,  to  raise,  from  the  old,  in- 
firm, and  inexperienced  settlers  who  remain,  as  gallant  a 
band  as  they,  still,  get  us  warmed  up,  and  we  can  fight 
some  yet.  Therefore,  I  propose  that,  on  next  Friday,  the 
day  after  our  annual  Thanksgiving,  we  turn  out  in  a  body 
to  hunt  for  the  cave  and  smoke  out  the  sneaking  scoun- 
drels with  gunpowder.  We  now  know  the  direction  of 
the  cave  ;  and  I  will  send  runners  to  the  neighboring- 
towns  and  summon  every  man  who  is  willing  to  volunteer 
to  meet  at  this  house  ;  and,  as  Wenane  knows  the  locali- 
ties, he  shall  be  the  captain,  or  pilot,  to  whom  Rozella  may, 
if  she  chooses,  present  another  flag." 

"  Father,"  said  Rozella,  "  Wenane  is  out  of  health  and 
quite  unable  to  bear  the  fatigue  of  such  an  expedition. 
But,  as  I  know  the  way  as  well  as  Wenane,  I  will  be  the 
captain,  with   your  leave  ;   and   the   enemy  will  get  no 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  207 

quarter  until  the  rope  draws  more  snugly  around  their 
necks  than  did  theirs  around  mine." 

"  And  I,"  said  Elsie,  "  will  be  your  aid  ;  and  shall  select 
as  my  war  horse  my  father's  old  white  steed,  who  has  seen 
service  in  these  terrible  Indian  fights,  and  is  as  impatient 
as  a  caged  tiger  for  another.  I  shall  ride  him  on  this  fox 
hunt,  and  will  take  odds  that  he  will  be  in  at  the  death." 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  squire,  "  about  this  business.  I 
am  fearful  you  wouldn't  make  very  good  Joans  of  Arc." 

"  We  don't  expect,"  replied  Elsie,  "  to  become  quite  such 
heroines  as  she  is  said  to  have  been  ;  but  perhaps  we 
might  by  our  example  keep  the  men  in  heart,  and  inspire 
them  to  persevere  in  the  undertaking." 

"  Well,"  said  the  squire,  "  we  will  think  of  it  when  the 
^time  comes  for  us  to  start." 

"  Well,"  retorted  Elsie,  "we  shall  think  of  it  before,  and 
be  ready  to  march  by  the  time  you  have  fixed  upon." 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

The  Hunt  for  Taurus  and  Janus. —The  Flight  op  Taurus.  —  Cap- 
ture of  Janus  and  Dolly  Plot,  and  their  Banishment. 

On  the  morning  of  the  above-named  Friday  all  the  men 
and  boys  of  their  own  town  as  well  as  those  who  had  vol- 
unteered from  the  towns  adjoining,  young  and  old,  sounc^ 
and  lame,  were  collected  in  and  about  the  house  of  Squire 
Langdell.  A  bountiful  and  sumptuous  breakfast  was  pro- 
vided by  the  squire,  of  which  they  partook  as  heartily  as 
could  be  expected  so  soon  after  Thanksgiving,  which,  being 
but  the  day  before,  had  taken  off  the  sharp  edge  of  their 
appetites.  The  company,  all  told,  numbered  twenty ;  of 
whom  ten  were  men,  eight  boys,  and  two  ladies.  A  num- 
ber of  the  young  men  were  from  a  considerable  distance, 
who,  having  heard  of  the  matchless  beauty  of  Rozella,  had 
volunteered  more  for  the  sake  of  getting  a  sight  at  her  than 
for  the  purpose  of  capturing  her  greatest  enemy.  Some 
had  come  merely  from  idle  curiosity ;  and,  that  being 
satisfied,  they  had  determined  to  return  without  going 
farther  ;  and  some  were  on  the  point  of  returning  to  their 
homes. 

At  this  moment  the  large  doors  of  the  barn  were  thrown 
open  and  Rozella  rode  out  upon  Wenane's  fleet  steed,  which 
pawed  the  ground  and  champed  the  bit,  impatient  for  the 
start.    She  was  accompanied  by  Elsie,  mounted  on  her 

(208) 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  209 

father's  white  horse,  which,  though  old,  seemed  full  of  the 
fire  of  youth,  and  ready  to  "  show  how  fields  are  won." 

Rozella  was  apparelled  much  in  the  same  style  as  at 
her  departure  on  her  errand  of  charity  ;  but  in  addi- 
tion she  had  a  long,  plaid  sash  around  her  waist  and 
tied  upon  her  shoulder.  Elsie  was  equipped  in '  a  similar 
manner. 

When  they  appeared  all  hearts  beat  high  ;  those  who 
before  had  grown  indifferent  now  became  reassured  and 
eager  for  the  fray ;  and  those  who  were  leaving  hastened 
back,  and,  to  a  man,  fell  into  line  and  stood  in  marching 
order. 

Squire  Langdell  was  chosen  captain  ;  whereupon  he 
turned  to  Rozella  and  asked  her  where  her  standard 
was. 

"  Here,  sir,"  responded  she,  taking  hold  of  her  sash. 
"  And  here,"  she  continued,  laying  her  hand  upon  her 
heart,  "is  the  standard  bearer.  While  this  is  seen  in 
advance,  let  no  soldier's  heart  grow  faint  nor  his  step  turn 
back." 

Then  the  air  rang,  as  of  old,  with  cheers  for  the 
Forest  Queen  ;  and,  orders  being  given,  the  company 
marched. 

Some  of  the  older  men  were  on  horseback  and  some  on 
foot,  and  a  part  carried  guns  ;  while  the  remainder  were 
armed  with  axes,  pitchforks,  and  shovels.  Inasmuch  as 
they  knew  not  the  locality  or  condition  of  the  cave,  they 
supposed  all  these  implements  might  be  necessary  to  the 
successful  prosecution  of  their  enterprise. 

As  some  of  the  company  knew  of  a  better  way  to  the 
ridge  above  the  pond,  they  took  it,  and  were  thereby  en- 
abled to  reach  that  locality  before  being  compelled  to 
dismount. 

They  then  walked  down  to  the  bog  and  saw  the  muddy 
18* 


210  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

bed  of  Taurus,  his  track  to  the  shore,  and  the  place  where 
he  had  crawled  up  the  bank.  Three  very  low  and  sub- 
dued cheers  were  given  ;  for  they  knew  they  were  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  den  of  thieves. 

"  There,"  said  Rozella,  pointing  to  the  mountain,  "  Tau- 
rus said  the  cave  was  at  the  foot  of  that  mountain." 

"  Here,  then,"  said  the  captain,  "  we  must  leave  our 
horses  and  proceed  cautiously  on  foot." 

The  horses  were  now  secured,  but  in  such  a  way  as  to 
permit  them  to  browse  upon  the  shrubs  and  bushes  around 
the  borders  of  the  ridge,  and  the  company  then  proceeded 
cautiously  forward.  When  they  came  to  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  they  halted  for  consultation ;  and  as  no  cave 
was  visible,  they  again  advanced.  They  had  gone  but  a 
short  distance  when  the  report  of  a  gun  was  heard 
but  a  few  rods  in  their  front ;  and,  on  looking  up  the 
mountain,  they  saw  upon  a  projecting  ledge  a  tall,  stout 
man,  in  a  foxskin  cap. 

"  It  is  Taurus,"  said  Elsie ;  and  as  she  spoke  he  again 
discharged  his  piece.  They  then  knew  it  was  to  give 
Janus  the  signal  that  danger  was  at  hand  ;  and  of  course 
the  cave  could  not  be  far  off. 

As  they  advanced  Taurus  scrambled  up  the  steep  ledge 
of  the  mountain  and  disappeared. 

They  then  advanced,  and  soon  discovered  a  large  gap 
in  the  ledge,  nearly  high  enough  to  allow  an  entrance 
without  stooping,  which  was  unanimously  considered  to  be 
the  cave  for  which  they  were  in  search.  As  they  neared 
its  mouth  a  noise  was  heard  within  ;  and  suddenly  a  dirty- 
looking  object  in  a  striped  frock  rushed  out,  and,  although 
several  guns  were  discharged  at  him,  ran  rapidly  down  the 
hill.  He  continued  on,  knocking  down  one  old  man  and 
running  over  several  boys,  until  he  encountered  Rozella, 
who  stood  ready  with  the  rope  which  had  been  left  on  the 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  211 

ledge,  and,  as  he  approached,  quickly  threw  it  over  his 
head.  As  Janus,  for  he  it  was,  ran  the  length  of  his  rope, 
Rozella  and  Elsie  drew  him  back  violently  upon  the 
ground,  half  choked  and  stunned,  when  the  men  came 
up  and  made  him  fast. 

They  then  entered  the  cave,  having  lighted  pitch-pine 
torches,  and  soon  came  upon  another  of  its  inmates,  who 
proved  to  be  the  notorious  Dolly  Plot,  then  on  a  visit  to 
her  friends.  She  was  awfully  frightened,  and  begged  for 
life  in  despairing  tones,  but  was  much  relieved  on  being 
assured  that  they  did  not  design  to  take  her  life  ;  for  she 
did  not  deserve  death  at  their  hands. 

"0,"  said  Dolly,  feeling  unusually  grateful,  "  I  will  tell 
all  of  your  fortunes  for  nothing." 

"  Indeed ! "  cried  Elsie.  "  If  you  can  foresee  future  events, 
why  did  you  not  foresee  and  avoid  this  misfortune  ?  " 

"  No  one,"  replied  Dolly,  "  can  foretell  their  own  fate." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  responded  Elsie  ;  "  but  any  one  can  pre- 
dict yours." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  Dolly. 

"  To  be  tied  to  the  other  end  of  the  rope  with  Janus, 
driven  down  to  the  settlement,  and  there  publicly  exposed, 
as  a  terror  to  all  evil  doers." 

"  Right ! "  shouted  the  whole  company.  "  To  the  other 
end  of  the  rope  with  her."  And  to  the  other  end  of  the 
rope  they  fastened  her ;  and  the  well-matched  pair  were 
then  driven  down  the  mountain  and  along  the  same  path 
in  which  but  a  week  previous  the  lovely  Forest  Queen  had 
been  driven. 

When  they  came  to  the  main  road,  Janus  turned  the 
sound  cheek  towards  his  captors  and  declared  Taurus  to 
be  the  instigator  of  the  wholo  plot ;  that  he,  Janus,  was 
friendly  to  the  colonists,  but,  over-persuaded  by  Taurus,  he 
had  been  induced  to  take  the  course  he  had,  and  for  which 


212  LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA. 

he  was  filled  with  deep  and  heartfelt  sorrow  ;  that  for 
the  future  he  would  change  his  course,  and,  engaging  in 
the  service  of  the  settlers,  fight,  and  if  needs  be  die,  for 
them. 

Dolly  was  equally  penitent,  and  declared  that  she  had 
no  ill  will  against  the  good  people  of  the  settlements ;  that, 
being  a  stranger,  with  no  friends  or  relatives  to  assist  her, 
she  was  forced  to  take  up  fortune  telling  for  a  living ; 
and,  moreover,  it  was  but  natural  to  take  sides  with 
those  who  had  patronized  her  ;  that  Taurus  had  always 
befriended  her ;  and  when  he  used  all  the  persuasions 
and  entreaties  of  which  he  was  master  to  induce  her  to 
assist  him  in  obtaining  Rozella,  she  pitied  him  so  much 
that  she  finally  yielded  to  his  request  ;  that  she  had 
not  left  her  lonely  island  before  now  for  a  number  of 
years  ;  and,  if  they  would  allow  her  to  return  this 
once,  she  would  never  leave  it  again  unless  to  leave  the 
country. 

So  much  did  her  recital  excite  the  sympathy  of  the 
young  ladies  that  they  untied  her,  and  Elsie  allowed  her 
to  ride  behind  her  the  remainder  of  the  route. 

The  company  arrived  at  Squire  Langdell's  late  in  the 
evening,  and  found  a  warm  and  bountiful  meal  awaiting 
their  coming,  and  to  which  they  did  full  justice.  It  was 
then  voted  that  the  two  captives  should  be  securely  tied 
to  separate  posts  in  the  garret  for  the  night,  and  that  the 
following  morning  Janus  should  be  taken  to  Portsmouth 
and  sent  out  of  the  country  by  the  first  vessel  that  should 
sail,  and  that,  if  he  ever  appeared  in  the  settlements  again, 
it  would  be  at  the  peril  of  his  life. 

It  was  decided  that  Dolly  should  return  to  her  hut  for 
the  few  articles  of  furniture  and  clothing,  and  then  remove 
to  an  island  in  the  Winnipiseogee  and  reform  her  mode 
of  life ;  and,  if  Taurus  should  again  make  his  appearance, 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  213 

she  should  immediately  inform  the  settlers  of  the  fact. 
To  this  Dolly  readily  agreed.  The  company  separated, 
well  satisfied  with  the  result  of  their  expedition ;  for,  al- 
though they  had  not  captured  the  prime  mover  of  the 
plot,  they  had  secured  his  comrades,  and,  as  they  sup- 
posed, driven  him  back  to  his  old  quarters  among  the 
trappers. 


CHAPTER    XXIII, 


Appearance  op  Chocop.ua  at  the  Squire's  House  for  Rozella.  — 
Wenane's  Sickness  increases.  —  Rozella  visits  Wenane.  —  Sad 
Interview  between  them.  — Song  op  the  Spirit  Huntsman,  and 
sung  by  Rozella  to  the  dying  "Wenane. — Wenane's  Death. 


The  morning  after  the  exciting  scenes  recorded  in  our 
last  chapter  was  ushered  in  clear  and  cold.  The  frost  lay 
in  a  myriad  of  sparkling  crystals  upon  the  ground  ;  and 
the  forest  trees,  in  their  pure  white  dress,  seemed  as  though 
they  had  "  put  on  their  beautiful  garments "  of  rejoicing 
at  the  overthrow  of  the  enemies  of  their  youthful  queen. 
And  Rozella  herself  never  appeared  happier  or  more  beau- 
tiful. She  said  that  she  now  felt  as  though  she  could 
breathe  freer  and  deeper  than  before,  and  that  her  sor- 
rows and  troubles  were  nearly  ended.  But  none  can  re- 
move the  impenetrable  veil  of  the  future  ;  and  in  this  case 
Rozella  was  no  exception  to  the  general  rule.  The  com- 
ing events  could  not  have1  been  predicted  even  by  Dolly 
herself ;  for  they  did  not  cast  before  them  even  the  shad- 
ow of  a  shade. 

Rozella  had  scarcely  finished  her  expressions  of  joy  at  the 
relief  she  felt  from  her  trials  and  troubles  when  the  door 
opened,  and  there  appeared  the  stern,  iron  countenance  of 
Chocorua,  the  great  sagamore  of  the  Pequawketts  and 
father  of  Wenane.  He  had  rarely  visited  the  house  of 
Squire  Langdell ;  and  they  knew  by  his  dejected  looks  and 

(214) 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  215 

mien  that  there  was  trouble  in  the  wigwam,  and  suspected 
its  cause. 

"  I  hope,"  said  Rozella,  "  the  great  chief  has  not  come 
for  Wenane's  horse  ;  for  I  was  intending  to  send  him  to 
you  as  soon  as  he  had  eaten  his  provender." 

"  No,"  replied  Chocorua  ;  "  I  did  not  come  for  the  horse, 
but  for  the  white  queen.  Wenane  is  very  sick,  and  must 
die." 

"  Die  ! "  exclaimed  Rozella,  in  astonishment ;  "  he  must 
not  die  ;  for  I  have  no  other  protector  in  the  absence  of 
Captain  Waldron." 

"  Nor  have  I  any  other  protector,"  replied  Chocorua, 
"  nor  any  thing  else  to  make  me  wish  to  live  when  he  is 
gone." 

"  When  was  he  taken  worse  ?  "  inquired  Rozella. 

"  The  night  he  ate  the  big  Thanksgiving  at  Mr.  Grove- 
nor's,"  replied  the  chief. 

"  I  will  go  directly  and  see  him,"  said  Rozella  ;  "  and 
perhaps  my  medicines  will  relieve  him." 

"  He  shall  have  none  of  your  medicines,"  responded  the 
chief,  sternly.  "  The  food  of  the  white  people  has  already 
laid  him  thus  low,  and  your  medicines  would  finish  him. 
I  have  gathered  all  the  roots,  barks,  and  herbs  which  are 
good  for  sick  Indian,  and  steeped  them  for  his  drink  ;  but 
none  of  them  makes  him  better.  He  knows  he  must  die  ; 
but  he  wants  to  see  the  young  Forest  Queen  once  more, 
and  then,  he  says,  he  can  die  in  peace.  But  if  he  does  die, 
woe  to  the  paleface  who  poisoned  him  with  his  cursed 
food !  for  there  will  be  no  peace  between  him  and  me." 

"  I  will  go  immediately,"  said  Rozella,  as  she  commenced 
putting  on  her  out-door  apparel. 

"  I,  too,"  said  Elsie,  "  will  accompany  you." 

"  No,"  said  the  chief,  with  darkening  brow ;  u  not  one 
step.  No  paleface  but  the  Forest  Queen  enters  the  wig- 
wam of  Chocorua." 


216  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

"I  am  not  afraid,"  said  Rozella.    "I  will  go  alone." 

"  Not  alone,"  replied  the  chief ;  "  for  I  will  go  with  you. 
The  young  queen  must  ride  Wenane's  horse,  which  must 
be  at  his  burial  should  he  die." 

Rozella  mounted  the  horse  as  the  chief  desired,  and, 
with  Chocorua  at  her  side,  proceeded  to  his  wigwam  in 
the  forest.  The  chief  was  gloomy  and  taciturn,  and  spoke 
not  except  when  Rozella  interrogated  him  concerning  We- 
nane,  or  to  give  the  usual  Indian  grunt  of  assent  to  her 
remarks. 

Although  Chocorua  had  buried  the  hatchet  and  smoked 
the  pipe  of  peace  with  the  whites,  still,  since  the  speech  of 
Captain  Waldron  on  his  departure  for  Louisburg,  where 
he  so  unjustly  charged  the  Indians  with  spilling  the  blood 
of  the  settlers  without  cause,  he  had  longed  more  than 
ever  to  dig  up  the  tomahawk  and  bury  the  pipe  of  peace 
in  its  stead.  But,  with  all  his  hatred  of  Captain  Waldron, 
whenever  he  reflected  that  his  own  bloody  account  was 
not  crossed  out,  still,  for  Wenane's  sake,  if  for  no  other 
cause,  he  treated  Rozella  with  the  greatest  respect  and 
kindness.  But  he  was  master  of  his  own  feelings ;  and, 
notwithstanding  the  long-smothered  fires  of  his  hatred 
were  kindled  anew  by  what  he  termed  the  murder  of  his 
son  by  the  white  man's  food,  he  concealed  his  anger  so 
completely  that  Rozella  supposed  him  to  be  as  fast  a  friend 
to  the  settlers  generally  as  he  was  to  herself. 

As  they  neared  the  rude  lodge  of  the  chief  the  horse 
pricked  up  his  ears  and  neighed  loudly,  which  brought 
several  Indians  who  had  been  watching  by  the  side  of  the 
sick  man  to  the  door ;  and  then,  for  the  first  time,  the  eyes 
of  Chocorua  were  suffused  in  tears.  He  dashed  them 
away  almost  as  soon  as  they  came ;  and  in  a  moment  his 
features  resumed  their  wonted  sternness  and  rigidity,  and 
he  seemed  a  brazen  statue,  incapable  alike  of  joy  or  grief. 
As  Rozella  dismounted,  and,  with  the  chief,  entered  the 


LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA.  217 

lodge,  the  Indians  within  left  it  and  retired  beyond  ear- 
shot. As  she  entered,  Wenane,  who,  save  a  pet  cub  of  a 
bear,  which  was  tied  in  one  corner,  was  now  the  sole  in- 
mate of  the  wigwam,  looked  up  with  a  pleasant  smile  and 
extended  his  thin  and  wasted  hand.  He  had  changed  so 
much  in  the  brief  space  of  time  since  she  last  saw  him 
that  she  could  hardly  believe  him  to  be  the  same  ;  while 
the  tears  fell  fast  from  her  melting  eyes,  and  she  was 
unable  to  utter  a  single  word. 

"  Young  queen,"  said  Wenane,  "  I  am  very  glad  to  see 
you  at  my  bedside.  I  shall  stay  with  you  but  a  short 
time  ;  and  I  could  not  go  '  on  the  pathway  of  spirits '  till 
I  had  seen  that  dear  face  once  more  and  thanked  you  for 
all  the  good  you  have  done  me  ;  and  although  I  knew  it 
was  beneath  the  dignity  of  the  Forest  Queen  to  come  to 
the  wigwam  of  a  poor  Indian,  yet,  as  I  could  hot  get  to 
you,  and  knowing  your  kind  heart,  I  thought  you  would 
not  feel  degraded  by  coming  to  me.  So  I  sent  for  you ; 
and  you  must  forgive  me  if  I  have  not  done  well." 

"  Wenane,"  replied  Rozella,  "  nothing  gives  me  greater 
pleasure  than  to  visit  you  in  your  sickness  ;  but  I  am 
pained  to  see  you  so  ill,  and  fear  for  the  result." 

"  Have  no  fears  for  me,"  replied  Wenane  ;  "  for,  though 
I  am  fading  like  a  summer  flower,  yet  shall  I  bloom  again 
in  brighter  colors  in  the  great  garden  of  the  spirit  land." 

"  I  hope  so,"  responded  Rozella  ;  "  but  do  you  believe 
that  all  your  offences  are  forgiven?" 

"  Offences  ?  "  said  Wenane,  inquiringly.  "  Have  I  of- 
fended the  young  Forest  Queen?  " 

"  Certainly  not,"  answered  Rozella. 

"  Who  then  ?  "  asked  Wenane. 

"  No  one  on  earth,"  said  Rozella ;  "  but  we  all  have 
sinned,  and,  when  we  appear  before  the  same  Judge,  shall 
need  the  same  pardon  and  forgiveness." 

"All  appear  before  the  same  Judge!"  cried  Wenane. 
19 


218  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

"  The  paleface  cannot  roam  the  fair  hunting  grounds  of 
the  red  man  except  he  intercede  with  the  Great  Spirit, 
whom  you  call  Judge,  for  admittance." 

"Dear  Wcnane,"  said  Rozella,  "as  I  fear  you  are  soon 
to  leave  us,  I  must  speak  plainly  ;  and  I  know  my  friend 
Wenane,  the  tried  and  true,  will  pardon  the  seeming  un- 
kindness  of  my  remarks." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Wenane  ;  "  speak  plainly  ;  for  I  know 
the  lips  of  the  young  Forest  Queen  cannot  say  what  her 
heart  does  not  feel." 

"  Then,"  said  Rozella,  "  I  must  tell  you  plainly  that 
there  is  no  hunting  ground  for  the  red  man  after  he  leaves 
the  present  world." 

"  Then,"  replied  Wenane,  "  I  must  tell  you  as  plainly 
that  you  are  mistaken,  and  that  your  eyes  are  not  open  to 
the  brilliant  light  that  streams  down  from  the  starry  hunt- 
ing grounds  of  the  sky.  Does  not  Rozella  remember  when 
she  asked  Wenane  to  go  and  hear  the  great  Whitefield 
preach,  as  she  called  his  talk?" 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Rozella ;  "  I  remember  it  well." 

"  And  will  not  the  Forest  Queen,"  continued  Wenane, 
"be  good  enough  to  repeat  what  he  called  his  text?" 

"  It  was  this,"  answered  Rozella  :  " '  The  heavens  de- 
clare the  glory  of  God,  and  the  firmament  showeth  his 
handiwork  ? 7 " 

"  And  does  not  this  prove  that  the  red  man's  belief  is 
right  ?  "  asked  Wenane  ;  "  and  are  not  the  Indians  his  own 
peculiar  people,  for  whom,  as  the  great  preacher  said,  all 
these  things  are  made  ?  And  did  he  not  say  —  as  the  red 
man  has  always  believed  —  that  there  were  the  great  dog, 
the  hart,  and  the  peacock  with  his  sparkling  plumage, 
the  lion  with  his  shaggy  mane,  the  great  bear  and  the 
little  bear,  together  with  all  kinds  of  fishes,  all  stars, 
and  that  the  north  star  was  set  like  a  diamond  in  the  tail 
of  the  cub  bear  ?    There,  too,  was  the  red  man,  with  his 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  219 

bow  and  arrows,  upon  his  fleet  horse,  and  whom  he  called 
Sagittarius,  or  the  Archer.  This  is  the  land  where  our 
fathers  are  now  pursuing  their  game  ;  and  I  shall  soon  be 
with  them  and  join  in  the  chase." 

"  Wenane,"  said  Rozella,  "  I  admire  the  ingenuity  with 
which  you  defend  your  brilliant  conceptions  of  the  fairy 
hunting  fields  of  the  red  man  ;  but  you  do  not  understand 
what  constitutes  a  true  believer  in  Him  who  died  that  we 
might  live,  and  was  raised  from  the  dead  to  intercede  for 
us  with  the  great  Father,  that  we  might,  through  him,  be 
enabled  to  enter  the  gates  and  walk  the  golden  streets  of 
the  city  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  and  be  admitted  to  the 
house  of '  many  mansions '  prepared  for  our  reception.  The 
glories  of  that  place  are  not  like  those  which  the  old  as- 
tronomers have  imagined  and  to  which  you  have  alluded. 
1  For  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath  it  en- 
tered into  the  heart  of  man '  what  is  there  laid  up  in  store 
for  them." 

"  That  may  refer,"  observed  Wenane,  "  to  some  wicked 
white  men ;  for  the  Great  Spirit,  the  red  man  thinks,  has  re- 
vealed these  things  to  us.  And  the  door  of  which  you  speak 
was  opened  for  the  red  man  ;  yet  I  will  intercede  with  the 
Great  Spirit  for  you,  and  come  on  the  same  horse  you  rode 
here  this  morning.  Chocorua  will  send  him  to  the  spirit 
land  with  me,  and  when  Rozella  is  called  I  shall  gallop 
down  the  skies  to  meet  her  ;  and  as  we  rode  from  the  dark 
woods  the  other  day  to  your  father's  house,  so  shall  we 
ride  home  together  from  this  dark  world  to  the  broad 
hunting  grounds  of  the  Great  Spirit." 

"  But  you  must  not  talk  more  now,"  said  Rozella  ;  "  it 
tires  you  too  much,  and  you  are  already  nearly  exhausted. 
Can  I  not  do  something  for  you  ?  " 

"  All  has  been  done  that  can  be,"  replied  Wenane ;  "  but 
you  may  give  me  some  water  if  you  please." 

Rozella   arose  and    procured  the   water,   and  at  that 


220  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

moment  the  chief  entered  the  lodge.  He  stood  like  a 
statue  as.  his  eye  fell  upon  his  son  ;  for  he  had  changed  very 
much  since  morning.  At  length  his  feelings  got  the  mas- 
tery of  him  ;  and  as  he  moved  towards  his  son,  the  massive 
frame  of  the  old  warrior  shook  and  swayed  like  an  aged 
oak  in  the  fierce  blast  of  the  tornado. 

11  Wenane,"  said  the  chief,  covering  his  face  with  his 
blanket,  "  must  soon  die." 

"Before  I  die,"  said  Wenane,  "I  must  see  my  noble 
horse,  who  is  to  be  my  only  companion  on  my  long  jour- 
ney." 

The  chief  instantly  proceeded  to  the  little  bough  house 
but  a  few  steps  from  the  lodge  and  untied  the  horse,  which 
immediately  turned  and  followed  him  to  the  lodge.  He 
entered  the  door  without  hesitation,  and,  approaching 
Wenane,  rubbed  his  head  gently  against  the  cold  cheek 
of  his  dying  master,  as  though  he  perfectly  understood  his 
condition  and  gave  him  up  as  reluctantly  as  the  old  chief 
himself.  The  thin,  wasted  hands  of  Wenane  were  engaged 
meanwhile  in  fondling  and  patting  the  face  and  untwist- 
ing his  long  forelock  and  flowing  mane. 

"Now,  Fieetfoot,"  said  he,  addressing  him,  "your  master 
is  about  to  depart  and  leave  these  waving  woods,  with  their 
gurgling  waters,  their  bounding  deer  and  their  singing 
birds,  all  dear  to  my  heart,  but  made  a  thousand  times 
dearer  by  the  friendship  of  the  young  Forest  Queen,  who 
holds  dominion  over  all.  And  you,  my  good  steed,  have 
the  same  attachment  to  these  things  that  I  have.  You 
love  all  that  I  love,  and  all  love  you  that  love  me.  Now, 
will  you  leave  all  for  your  master,  and  bear  him  to  his 
far-off  home  in  the  skies  ?  " 

As  Wenane  ceased  speaking  Fieetfoot  gave  a  low  whin- 
ny, as  if  to  signify  his  assent  to  his  master's  proposition, 
and  then,  of  his  own  accord,  turned  and  left  the  lodge. 

"  Enough ! "  cried  Wenane.    "  I  see,  far  away  in  the  broad 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  221 

pathway  of  the  stars,  the  white-plumed  horsemen  gathering 
to  meet  me.  Hark  !  I  hear  a  burst  of  joyous  music  from 
the  skies.  0,  let  me  go !  for  I  long  to  join  the  glorious 
band  who  are  now  riding  down  the  starry  slopes  of  heaven 
to  escort  me  thither.  Rozella,  how  glad  I  am  to  have  you 
with  me  !  0,  wipe  off  again  the  cold  drops  from  my  face, 
and  again  place  your  soft  hand  upon  my  throbbing  tem- 
ples !  for  it  hushes  my  raging  agonies  into  peace.  How 
soft,  yet  how  bright,  are  your  eyes  !  They  seem  to  gleam 
with  the  same  light  I  see  in  the  skies.  *  After  all,  the  one 
to  whom  the  young  queen  looks,  and  loves,  and  worships, 
and  whom  she  calls  Father  and  Judge,  and  the  one  that  I 
love  and  worship,  and  call  the  Great  Spirit,  are  one  and 
the  same,  to  whom  we  both  look  for  guidance  and  protec- 
tion.    Can  you  doubt  this,  Rozella  ?  " 

"  It  may  be  so/'  replied  Rozella  ;  "  at  any  rate,  we  will 
discuss  the  point  no  further  at  present." 

"  'Zella,"  asked  Wenane,  in  a  low  tone,  "  is  the  spark 
about  to  go  out  and  leave  the  brand  cold  and  fireless  ?  " 

"  Even  so,"  was  her  reply ;  "  the  flame  wanes  and  flickers, 
and  will  soon  expire." 

"  Then,"  replied  Wenane,  "  Chocorua  must  bring  my 
best  robes  ;  and  the  skilful  hand  of  Rozella,  which  adorns 
whatever  it  touches,  shall  assist  in  fitting  them  properly 
and  tastefully,  so  that  Fleetfoot  may  not  be  ashamed  of 
the  young  chief  he  so  proudly  bears  as  he  surmounts  the 
dizzy  heights  of  the  blessed  hunting  fields  beyond  the 
stars." 

Quickly  did  Chocorua  obey  the  wish  of  his  dying  son ; 
and  Rozella  assisted,  in  compliance  with  the  last  wish  of 
her  friend  and  protector.  Wenane  was  soon  arrayed  in 
his  new  blanket,  tastefully  ornamented  in  front  with  beads 
and  stars,  while  upon  the  back  was  a  representation  of  a 
deer  chase.  It  was  fastened  by  a  large  brooch,  upon 
which  appeared  the  figure  of  an  Indian  canoe.  His  warn- 
19* 


222  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

pum  was  adorned  with  shells  of  the  rarest  beauty,  and  in- 
wrought with  small  strips  of  variegated  bark,  with  stars 
of  mica  sewed  between. 

His  moccasons  of  buckskin  were  also  ingeniously  in- 
wrought with  beads  and  porcupine  quills ;  and  his  cap  was 
of  beaver  skin,  with  a  broad  band  of  scarlet,  in  which  were 
stuck  long  eagles'  feathers  ;  while  on  its  front  was  repre- 
sented a  crescent  moon,  and  on  the  crown  a  view  of  the 
rising  sun. 

His  face  was  then  painted  with  the  brightest  colors,  and 
his  bow  and  stoneheaded  arrows  placed  in  his  hand,  ready 
to  draw  on  his  game ;  while  his  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife,  of  the  finest  English  workmanship,  were  fastened  to 
his  belt.  Thus  equipped,  he  still  sat  upright ;  but  his  eyes 
were  dim  and  glassy  and  his  hands  purple  and  cold.  He 
could  still  speak,  and,  as  they  finished  attiring  him,  said, 
"  Chocorua,  am  I  ready  ?  " 

"  All  ready,"  answered  the  old  chief,  in  a  trembling  voice. 

"  Then,"  said  Wenane,  as  he  turned  his  dim  and  dying 
eyes  upon  Rozella,  "  let  her  who  cheered  the  heart  of  the 
brave  captain  when  he  departed  to  his  conquest  across  the 
blue  waters  with  her  song,  so  sweet  that  it  took  away  all 
thoughts  of  danger,  now  sing  the  Spirit  Huntsman's  Song 
as  he  passes  over  the  gulf,  dark  with  death  on  this  side, 
but  bright  with  life  beyond  it." 

Whereupon  Rozella,  whose  eyes  overflowed  with  tears, 
sung  in  a  plaintive  but  inexpressibly  sweet  voice 


THE   SONG  OF  THE   SPIRIT   HUNTSMAN;    OR,   THE 
INDIAN'S    HOME. 


I. 

Far,  far  away,  in  starry  regions, 
Wild  breaks  the  huntsman's  cry ; 

There's  where  the  fleetest  game  by  legions 
Ranges  the  fields  of  the  sky. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  223 


There  the  bear  roams  on  the  mountain, 

And  broad- winged  eagles  soar ; 
There  waters,  fresh  from  crystal  fountains, 

Sparkle  in  light  evermore. 

II. 

Far  yonder,  where  the  stars  shine  brightest, 

There's  where  the  moose  ever  roves  ; 
There  bounds  along  the  elk  the  lightest 

Through  the  celestial  groves. 
O,  this  world  in  gloom  seems  weeping  ! 

Weary  on  earth  I  roam  ; 
Far  distant  is  the  haunt  I'm  seeking ; 

Gladly  I  haste  to  my  home  ! 

Hi- 
There  hunting  grounds  for  me  are  lying, 

Where  deer  and  hart  fill  the  plain  ; 
Thick  the  arrows  through  the  air  are  flying, 

Falling,  yet  plenty's  the  game. 
Eyes,  like  diamonds  bright,  are  glowing 

Down  through  the  broad,  arched  dome  ; 
There  hunters  to  the  chase  are  going ; 

There  is  the  Indian's  home. 


So  excited  was  Wenane  as  Rozella  closed  his  favorite 
song,  that,  though  in  the  very  throes  of  death,  he  sprang 
upon  his  knees,  and,  in  a  voice  far  above  its  wonted  power, 
shouted,  "I  see  him!"  while  at  the  same  instant  the  twang 
of  his  bowstring  and  the  whiz  of  his  arrow  were  heard,  and 
the  young  cub  at  the  other  side  of  the  lodge  was  seen 
struggling  in  its  death  agony,  pinned  fast  to  the  log  to 
which  he  had  been  chained  by  the  swift  arrow  of  Wenane, 
which  had  passed  entirely  through  him. 

They  looked  at  Wenane,  and  he,  too,  was  lifeless.  The 
hunter  and  the  hunted  had  fallen  by  the  flight  of  the  same 
shaft. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 


Burial  of  Wenane.  —  Chocorua  digs  up  the  Battle  Axe.  —  Thb 
Chief  accompanies  Rozella  Home.  —  Pike's  Interview  with  the 
Chief. 


But  not  only  with  Wenane  died  the  pet  cub,  but  also 
all  that  was  humane  in  the  bosom  of  Chocorua.  His  eyes 
were  frightfully  bloodshot  and  his  countenance  haggard 
and  ghastly.  Rozella  became  so  alarmed  at  his  wild  looks 
and  strange  conduct  that  she  arose,  and,  taking  her  cap 
and  gloves,  was  about  to  depart,  when  Chocorua,  fixing 
his  bloodshot  eyes  upon  her,  exclaimed,  "Not  one  step 
until  that  stolen  flower,  (pointing  to  Wenane,)  plucked  by 
the  murderous  hand  of  the  paleface,  is  planted  in  the  soil 
of  his  fathers.  For  Rozella  will  be  the  only  one  who  will 
remain  to  remember  the  place  of  his  burial ;  and  may  she 
visit  it  often  and  remember  it  long.  But  I  see  that  the 
young  queen  is  frightened  and  trembles  like  the  leaf  on 
yonder  willow.  She  need  not  fear  ;  for  no  harm  shall 
befall  her.  She  tried  to  save  the  life  of  the  young  chief- 
tain ;  and  Chocorua  would  save  hers,  even  at  the  expense 
of  his  own.  But  woe  to  that  house  that  last  sheltered  him 
and  to  that  hand  that  last  fed  him !  From  this  moment 
Chocorua  is  a  warrior  ;  and  there  is  not,  and  never  will 
be  again,  a  soft  spot  in  his  heart.  But  the  chief  of  the 
Pequawketts  must  have  on  his  war  robes  when  he  performs 
the  last  office  for  his  murdered  son." 

(224) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  225 

-  He  then  equipped  himself  in  his  full  dress  after  the 
manner  of  his  tribe,  and  painted  his  face  and  breast  until 
the  colors  ran  down  upon  the  ground.  He  also  shaved  all 
of  his  head  except  one  tuft,  which  he  left  for  the  better 
accommodation  of  him  who  should,  if  he  could,  take  his 
scalp.  He  then  went  to  the  bough  house,  and,  bringing 
Fleetfoot  to  the  door  of  the  lodge,  placed  the  body  of 
his  son  upon  him,  and  bade  Rozella  follow.  She  did  so, 
and  was  the  only  mourner  who  followed  this  strange 
hearse.  Chocorua  proceeded  on  until  they  came  to  an 
old  and  spreading  oak,  on  which  were  a  few  rustling  dead 
leaves,  when  he  laid  the  body  of  his  son  upon  the  ground 
and  commenced  digging  the  grave. 

"  This,"  said  he,  u  is  the  spot.  I  smell  English  blood  on 
the  steel." 

He  dug  the  grave  deep,  but  not  long,  and  at  length 
exclaimed,  "  Here  it  is,"  as,  casting  a  terrible  look  at  Ro- 
zella^  which  made  her  shudder  again,  he  drew  up  from  the 
oottom  of  the  grave  a  bearskin,  rolled  around  something 
which  seemed  of  immense  value  in  his  eyes,  and  laid  it  by 
the  side  of  the  grave.  He  then  placed  the  corpse  of  his 
son  in  the  grave  in  a  sitting  posture,  together  with  all  his 
battle  implements,  and,  after  arranging  his  bow  and  arrows 
upon  his  hands,  drew  his  own  pipe  from  his  girdle,  and, 
breaking  it  in  a  spiteful  manner,  deposited  it  beneath  the 
body.  Then,  laying  over  it  some  hemlock  boughs  and  oak 
leaves,  he  covered  the  whole  with  earth. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "  the  sun  is  going  down  ;  and  that  bright 
orb  and  the  son  of  the  chief  shall  enter  the  happy  hunting 
fields  of  our  fathers  together.  But  the  son  of  the  great 
sagamore  and  the  last  successor  to  the  office  of  chief  of 
the  Pequawketts  shall  not  walk  like  a  dog  of  the  Narra- 
gansetts  to  the  starry  hunting  grounds." 

So  saying  he  led  his  son's  horse  upon  the  grave,  and, 
drawing  his  long  knife,  cut  his  throat  so  completely  around 


226  LEGENDS   OF   LACOXIA. 

that  he  fell  directly  upon  the  grave  ;  and  the  last  sad 
funeral  rites  of  Wenane,  the  kindhearted  and  heroic  friend 
of  the  Forest  Queen,  were  ended. 

While  these  mysterious  ceremonies  were  going  on  Ro- 
zella  had  involuntarily  drawn  back  a  few  rods,  still  keep- 
ing her  eyes  riveted  on  the  scene  before  her  ;  and  when 
they  were  finished  Chocorua  bade  her  come  forward.  She 
knew  not  but  her  own  turn  had  now  come,  but  dared  not 
disobey,  and  therefore  advanced  to  where  the  chief  was 
standing. 

"  Did  the  young  queen,"  said  he,  "  see  the  sagamore  bury 
the  broken  fragments  of  the  pipe  of  peace,  thereby  signi- 
fying that  he  should  smoke  with  the  whiteskin  no  more  ?  " 

"  I  did,"  said  Rozella. 

"And  here,"  pursued  he,  "  taking  up  and  unrolling  the 
bearskin  he  had  dug  up,  "  is  the  battle  axe  of  the  Pequaw- 
ketts.  I  now  unroll  it  for  the  last  time ;  and  it  shall 
never  again  be  buried.  Its  edge  is  now  hot  with  thirst 
for  blood."  Then,  running  his  fingers  along  its  edge  to 
ascertain  its  keenness,  he  continued  :  "  Chocorua  can  tell 
by  feeling  the  pulse  of  the  steel  when  the  blood  is  feverish 
in  the  veins  of  the  palefaces  and  needs  to  be  let  out.  Ah, 
I  see  the  edge  is  keen  and  hot.  Here  are  the  axe  and  the 
knife  ;  but  where  is  the  victim  ?  But  the  Forest  Queen 
need  not  turn  pale,  for  'tis  not  for  her  blood  that  the 
hatchet  thirsts.  But  o'er  yonder  hill  the  pile  is  reared  ; 
and  where  the  victim  sleeps  to-night  the  fire  shall  be  kin- 
dled ;  and  Chocorua  and  the  ghost  of  his  murdered  son 
will  dance  around  the  smoking  caldron  to  the  shrieking 
music.  Revenge !  —  0,  'tis  sweeter  than  the  morning  dew  ; 
'tis  sweeter  than  the  white  man's  food  to  a  starving  Indian. 
Ha !  ha !  But  look !  in  yon  thick  cloud  there  lies  a  bank 
of  snow  —  the  first  gift  of  the  wintry  clouds  bestowed  to 
cover  the  new-made  grave  of  the  slain  as  well  as  the 
tracks  of  him  who  is  to  be  the  avenger." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  227 

Rozella  by  this  time  had  recovered  in  a  measure  her 
wonted  fortitude  and  self-possession,  and  now  spoke  :  — 

"It  cannot  be  that  the  great  chief  who  so  long  since 
buried  the  hatchet,  and  has  lived  so  quietly  with  the  set- 
tiers,  now  means  to  do  them  harm." 

"  The  word  is  spoken,"  replied  Chocorua  ;  "  the  hatchet 
is  dug  up ;  and  from  this  hour  unceasing  war  is  declared 
between  the  white  man  and  the  last  sagamore  of  the 
Pequawketts." 

u  0,"  cried  Rozella,  "  let  the  cries  of  the  innocent  babes 
and  helpless  mothers  soften  the  heart  of  the  sachem,  and 
keep  him  from  committing  so  foul  a  deed  of  cruel  re- 
venge." 

"  Ah,"  answered  Chocorua,  "  the  young  queen  does  not 
know  the  Indian's  heart;  and  when  will  she  learn  it? 
The  groans  of  men,  the  wailing  cries  of  babes,  and  the 
piercing  shrieks  of  women  are  but  the  dulcet  tones 
which  the  Indian  wakes  from  the  melodious  harp  of  suf- 
fering and  woe,  as  his  revengeful  fingers  sweep  the  bloody 
strings." 

"  I  had  learned,"  said  Rozella,  "  that  his  heart  was  fiery 
and  revengeful ;  but  if  such  be  thy  nature,  I  now  learn 
that  it  is  as  cold  as  it  is  cruel  and  revengeful." 

"  Cold  ! "  retorted  Chocorua.  "  Ha !  ha !  That  cloud 
to  which  I  just  directed  your  eye,  and  which  hangs  in  the 
far  regions  of  the  north  as  a  cap  to  the  glittering  glaciers 
of  the  frigid  zone,  is  not  colder  nor  more  icy.  And  the 
mild  glances  of  the  modest  maiden's  eye,  raised  in  suppli- 
cation to  the  great  sagamore,  have  no  more  effect  upon  his 
determined  purpose  than  the  pale  moonbeams,  that,  as  sly- 
ly and  as  modestly  as  her  own  mild  glances,  send  their 
silvery  rays  through  the  silent  night,  have  upon  the  piled- 
up  mountains  of  perpetual  ice.  But  look !  it  is  dark 
already  ;  and  the  timorous  bird  will  leave  me  now,  and 


228  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

seek  her  own  nest  of  innocent  repose.  Would  that 
Chocorua  could  find  a  pillow  as  soft  as  her  own,  and  a 
bed  as  quiet  and  peaceful  as  is  his  whom  her  sweet  voice 
has  lulled  to  sleep  in  this  cradle  of  the  grave ! " 

The  bloodshot  eyes  and  the  distorted  features  of  Cho- 
corua, as  he  ceased  speaking,  so  alarmed  Rozella  that  she 
stood  as  if  spellbound  at  first,  and  then  trembled  like  a 
leaf  of  the  aged  oak  above  her  head.  Neither  did  she 
dare  to  ask  him  to  accompany  her  through  the  woods  as 
a  protection  against  her  old  foe  and  the  new  enemies  she 
saw  leave  the  wigwam  at  her  approach.  The  old  chief 
observed  her  agitated  demeanor,  and,  divining  the  cause, 
remarked,  — 

"The  young  Forest  Queen  will  not  refuse  to  forgive 
the  hasty  words  of  the  father  of  Wenane.  I  was  wrong 
when  I  bade  the  trembling  bird  leave  me,  and  go  alone 
and  unprotected  to  her  home.  I  will  go  with  her  until 
she  sees  the  curling  smoke  from  the  chimney  of  the  house 
where  her  father  lives,  and  where,  without  her  presence, 
the  flashes  of  the  hearth  fires  upon  the  wall  would  be  as 
dark  and  gloomy  as  the  black  cloud  that  hangs  over  yon- 
der lake." 

So  saying  they  both  left  the  spot  and  returned  to 
the  lodge.  Chocorua  went  in ;  but  Rozella  went  only 
to  the  door,  while,  as  she  looked  into  the  now  lonely 
dwelling  of  her  lost  friend,  tears  started  afresh  to  her 
eyes,  and  she  realized  the  greatness  of  the  loss  she  had 
sustained. 

Chocorua  first  took  down  a  long  gun  from  the  wooden 
hooks  on  which  it  had  been  suspended,  and  exclaimed, 
"  Longshot,  you  will  bring  down  the  deer  the  farthest  j" 
then,  putting  his  hand  to  his  forehead,  continued,  as  he 
replaced  the  gun  and  took  up  his  bow  and  arrows,  "  But 
Stillshot  will  be  less  likely  to  alarm  the  settlers.    Now," 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  229 

said  he,  turning  to  Rozella,  "  the  great  sagamore  of  the 
Pequawketts  will  walk  on  friendly  terms  with  the  white 
squaw  for  the  last  time." 

They  then  started  for  the  settlement ;  and  both  main- 
tained a  silence  broken  only  by  the  savage  howl  of  the 
far-off  wolf  and  the  dismal  hoot  of  the  great  horned  owl. 
The  winds  whistled  drearily  through  the  wailing  pines, 
and  the  snow,  which  had  commenced  falling,  fell  thick  and 
fast. 

As  they  approached  her  father's  house  Rozella  ventured 
to  address  the  old  chief :  — 

"  Chocorua,"  said  she,  "  will  you,  the  father  of  the  fallen 
Wen  an  e,  in  consideration  of  the  love  and  friendship  he 
ever  felt  for  me,  listen  to  me  but  for  a  moment  ?  " 

"  Speak,"  replied  the  chief ;  "  but  be  brief,  for  I  can  go 
but  little  farther." 

"  Let  me  entreat  you,  then,"  continued  Rozella,  "to  for- 
get your  animosity  and  revenge,  and  continue  to  live  with 
the  settlers,  as  you  have  done  for  the  past  year,  on  terms 
of  peace  and  friendship.  Bury  again  your  tomahawk; 
and  if  need  be,  bury  it  in  this  bosom,  if  blood  must  be 
shed  and  one  victim  will  satisfy  the  sacrifice  you  have 
sworn  to  offer." 

As  she  closed  Chocorua  stopped  suddenly,  and  fixed 
upon  her  a  stare  so  demoniacal  in  its  fury  that  she  was 
glad  to  avert  her  eyes  from  the  glaring  and  fiendish  gaze. 

"  You  entreat  me,"  replied  he,  "  for  the  sake  of  the  love 
and  fidelity  of  my  murdered  son,  to  forget  my  revenge  and 
live  at  peace  with  the  settlers.  Ha !  ha !  Will  the  young 
queen  look  at  the  cloud  over  her  head  ?  See  how  it  is 
swollen  with  snow,  and  how  rapidly  it  throws  it  down  to 
earth.  Now  ask  of  that  cloud  that  it  shall  cease  to  send 
its  overflowing  burden  upon  the  earth,  when  every  part 
of  its  fleecy  folds  is  swollen  nearly  to  bursting.  Would  it 
obey  her?  Yet  it  would  do  so  far  sooner  than  Chocorua. 
20 


230  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

And  does  she  think  that  Wenane's  love  and  fidelity  to  hei- 
self  were  greater  than  mine  to  him  ?  No,  no  ;  Chocorua 
would  be  unworthy  the  name  of  Sachem  of  the  Pequaw- 
ketts,  or  father  of  Wenane,  did  he  not  avenge  his  death. 
The  ghost  of  the  murdered  Wenane,  mounted  upon  his 
faithful  Fleetfoot,  is  still  lingering  about  his  grave ;  nor 
will  he  take  his  flight  to  the  fair  hunting  grounds  of  the 
sky  until  his  death  is  revenged ;  and  then  he  will  depart 
satisfied  and  in  peace.  But  were  the  great  chief  to  bury 
his  tomahawk  in  a  bosom  so  pure  and  innocent  as  that  of 
the  young  Forest  Queen,  does  she  suppose  Wenane  could 
rest  in  yonder  peaceful  grave  while  his  father  proved  so 
recreant  to  the  charge  bequeathed  him?  No  —  a  thousand 
times,  no!  When  his  ghost  should  scent  the  innocent 
blood  from  so  spotless  a  heart  it  would  burst  the  chains 
of  death  and  the  grave,  and  rush  forth  to  avenge  it. 
Even  the  foul  spirits  of  darkness  would  be  let  loose  upon 
the  wretch,  and  be  permitted  to  wreak  their  utmost  ven- 
geance upon  so  vile  a  monster.  But  here  is  the  young 
queen's  house  ;  let  her  enter  it  in  peace,  but  think  no  more 
of  changing  the  purpose  of  the  great  sagamore ;  for  the 
last  kind  act  that  he  will  ever  bestow  upon  a  paleface  is 
now  completed." 

And,  as  he  finished  his  harangue,  Chocorua  turned  and 
was  soon  lost  to  Rozella's  sight  in  the  storm  of  fast-falling 
snow. 

Rozella  immediately  entered  the  house,  and  made  known 
the  sad  news  of  the  death  and  strange  burial  of  Wenane, 
and  of  the  determination  of  Chocorua  to  massacre  the 
family  of  Mr.  Grovenor. 

"  But  Mr.  Grovenor,"  said  the  squire,  "  is  absent  from 
home,  having  gone  to  Dover,  and  will  not  return  before 
to-morrow." 

"0,"  exclaimed  Rozella,  "what  can  be  done  for  the 
safety  of  his   innocent  wife  and  helpless  babes?     Can- 


-.  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  231 

not  some  one  go  and  inform  them  of  the  impending 
danger  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Pike,  the  hired  man  of  the  squire,  who 
worked  on  the  farm  during  the  week  and  led  the  singing 
on  the  Sabbath,  "  I  will  undertake  to  carry  the  message." 

"  It  will  be  at  the  risk  of  your  own  life,"  said  the  squire  ; 
"for  Chocorua  is  a  cunning  old  fox  ;  and  if  he  has  dug  up 
the  hatchet  and  commenced  anew  his  bloody  work,  ten 
-men  would  hardly  be  sufficient  to  defeat  him." 

"  I  will  undertake  the  message,  nevertheless,"  answered 
Pike  ;  "  for  their  lives  are  in  danger  ; "  and  putting  on 
his  overcoat  and  taking  his  gun,  left  for  the  house  of 
Grovenor.  He  had  gone  about  half  a  mile  when,  in  pass- 
ing a  clump  of  bushes  by  the  roadside,  the  twang  of  Still- 
shot  was  heard  ;  and  the  arrow  pierced  the  side  of  Pike, 
but,  striking  a  rib,  glanced  and  twisted  around  in  such  a 
way  as  to  go  twice  completely  through  all  his  garments, 
and  its  stone  head  came  out  just  over  the  breast  bone.  He 
fell ;  and  Chocorua,  who  winged  the  shaft,  sprang  towards 
him  with  his  uplifted  tomahawk  to  despatch  him  and 
secure  his  scalp.  But  just  before  he  reached  him  Pike 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  cocked  his  gun,  the  music  of  which 
Chocorua  did  not  exactly  relish,  and  therefore  halted. 
Pike,  fearing  that  the  moisture  of  the  falling  snow  might 
cause  his  piece  to  miss  fire,  was  careful  not  to  risk  it ;  for 
he  well  knew  that,  in  case  he  failed  to  bring  down  his 
antagonist,  his  own  life  must  pay  the  forfeit ;  and  there- 
fore he  went  backwards,  still  holding  his  gun  to  his  face 
and  threatening  to  fire.  Chocorua  followed  him  with 
uplifted  tomahawk  until  he  had  nearly  reached  home, 
when,  calling  him  a  cowardly,  palefaced  dog,  he  turned 
back  and  left  him  with  his  shag  overcoat  pinned  fast  to 
his  body  by  the  long  shaft  of  old  Stillshot.  Pike  then 
entered  the  house  ;   and,  with  the   assistance  of  Squire 


232  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

Langdell  and  Rozella,  the  arrow  was  soon  extracted  and 
the  wound  dressed. 

None  of  the  family  of  Squire  Langdell  left  the  house 
that  night ;  for  the  storm  raged  violently,  and  they  knew 
not  how  many  of  his  tribe  the  infuriated  chief  had  around 
him. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 


Burning  of  Grovenor's  House  by  Chocorua.  —  Capture  of  the 
Tufton  Family.  —  The  Settlers  rally  and  depart  for  their 
Recapture  and  to  destroy  Chocorua.  —  Fairy  Scene  in  the 
Woods.  —  The  enchanted  Wolf  or  wild  Spirit  of  the  Mountains. 
—  Some  smart. 


Towards  morning  the  storm  of  snow  turned  to  a  rain ; 
but  before  sunrise  the  rain  ceased  and  the  sky  was  clear 
and  unclouded.  The  icicles  hung  in  conical  pendants 
from  the  boughs  and  glittering  in  the  sunbeams,  while  the 
trees  stood  with  their  gigantic  trunks  seemingly  plated 
with  solid  silver.  The  earth  had  put  on  her  white  sacer- 
dotal robe  to  perform  the  funereal  rites  of  lifeless  autumn  ; 
and,  as  the  lawn  of  the  white-gowned  fraternity  too  often 
does,  it  covered  but  a  useless  mass  of  dead  and  inert  mat- 
ter, "  having  the  form  of  godliness  but  denying  the  power 
thereof." 

The  family  of  Squire  Langdell  had  just  left  their  beds 
when  Mr.  Grovenor  came  in  on  his  way  home.  He  had 
stopped  over  night  about  five  miles  from  the  squire's  on 
account  of  the  furious  storm,  which  prevented  his  going 
farther.  He  had  taken  an  early  start  while  the  stars  were 
yet  bright,  and  was  thus  enabled  to  reach  the  squire's 
about  the  usual  time  of  the  rising  of  the  family.  They 
then  informed  him  of  the  threats  of  Chocorua  in  conse- 
quence <^f  the  death  of  his  son.  and  of  his  attack  upon  Pike 
20  *  v  -  (233) 


234  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

as  he  was  on  his  way  to  forewarn  his  family  the  preceding 
evening.  Taking  a  hasty  breakfast,  and  collecting  a  few 
of  the  neighboring  settlers,  they  hastened  to  the  place  of 
Mr.  Grovenor  —  but  not  to  his  house  or  to  his  family,  for 
both  had  perished  in  the  flames.  Where  the  house  once 
stood  there  was  now  nought  but  thin  air  ;  and  in  place  of 
the  happy,  smiling  faces  of  his  wife  and  children  lay  only 
blackened  and  smouldering  corpses  underneath  a  shape- 
less mass  of  charred  beams  and  half-consumed  timbers. 

The  mournful  wailings  of  poor  Grovenor  were  indeed 
heartrending.  He  had  left  his  family  well,  happy,  and,  as 
he  supposed,  safe,  and  had  found  but  their  lifeless  bodies, 
burned,  blackened,  and  repulsive.  He  threw  himself  upon 
the  ground  ;  and  his  distressed  cries  and  agonizing  groans 
would  have  drawn  tears  from  the  very  stones  themselves 
had  the  eyes  of  rough,  stern  manhood  refused  to  weep. 
But  if,  like  Rachel  weeping  for  her  children,  he  refused 
to  be  comforted,  like  Chocorua  lamenting  for  his  son  he 
would  be  revenged. 

"It  is  Chocorua,"  cried  he,  "who  has  done  me  this 
irreparable  evil." 

"And  Chocorua's  blood,"  replied  every  voice,  "shall 
pay  the  penalty." 

Runners  were  now  sent  in  every  direction  to  rally  the 
settlers,  who  by  noon  had  assembled  at  the  usual  place  of 
rendezvous,  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell.  But  what  star- 
tled them  more,  if  possible,  than  the  destruction  of  the 
Grovenors,  was  the  intelligence  brought  by  one  of  the 
runners,  while  Rozella  was  pleading  with  her  father  to  be 
permitted  to  join  the  scout,  that  the  Tufton  family,  con- 
sisting of  the  heroic  Elsie,  her  father,  and  two  younger 
sisters,  were  taken  captives  by  another  band  of  Indians 
and  carried  off.  The  quick  brain  of  Rozella  was  instantly 
at  work  to  devise  a  plan  for  their  relief ;  and  in  a  few 
minutes  she  made  it  known.    It  was  that  she  should  ac- 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  235 

company  the  scouting  party  until  they  came  in  sight  of  the 
encampment  of  their  foes,  when  she  would  proceed  alone 
to  the  lodge  of  the  old  chief,  who  would  listen  to  her 
earnest  entreaties  in  behalf  of  the  captives  and  deliver 
them  up. 

Her  father  and  some  of  the  older  men  still  objected  to 
her  plan  as  impracticable,  and  that,  moreover,  the  project 
of  going  at  all  was  tampering  with  her  own  safety,  and 
might  be  detrimental  to  the  success  of  the  expedition. 
But  she  persisted  in  urging  her  plan,  and  insisted  that  the 
liberty  of  her  dear  friend  and  even  her  life  depended  on 
her  going,  for  she  would  die  if  compelled  to  sleep  in  the 
woods  at  this  season  of  the  year  ;  and,  moreover,  if  they 
proceeded  without  her  and  overpowered  the  savages,  or 
should  the  Indians  see  that  the  rescuing  party  was  too 
numerous  for  them,  in  either  case  they  would  at  once  de- 
stroy their  captives,  and  thus  all  would  be  lost. 

And  so  eloquent  and  forcible  were  her  pleadings  that 
the  company  finally  yielded,  and  granted  her  permission 
to  accompany  them  and  put  her  scheme  in  operation. 

As  they  were  about  to  start  a  squad  of  five  men  ap- 
peared, who  proved  to  be  new  comers  to  that  section  of 
the  country,  having  been  up  to  view  their  new  purchases 
of  the  Masonian  proprietors  at  Merry  Meeting  Bay.  The 
sufferers  told  them  the  object  of  the  expedition,  and  they 
volunteered  at  once  and  joined  the  band.  Each  man  had 
a  knapsack  and  carried  provision  enough  to  last  them  sev- 
eral days.  They  chose  True  Grovenor  leader,  and  ad- 
vanced, not  in  regular  military  order,  but  in  single  or 
Indian  file. 

Rozella  and  two  or  three  of  the  older  men  were  on 
horseback,  and  were  to  ride  until  the  dense  bushes  and 
fallen  trees  rendered  it  impossible  to  go  farther  with  their 
horses,  when  they  were  to  leave  them  to  find  their  way 
back  alone. 


236  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

They  soon  came  upon  and  followed  the  trail  of  Choco- 
rua,  which  led,  as  they  expected  it  would  do,  into  the 
trail  of  the  party  that  had  captured  the  Tufton  family. 
They  satisfied  themselves  by  the  footprints  in  the  snow 
that  the  Indians  did  not  number  over  fifteen,  while  their 
own  party  consisted  of  twenty-two,  among  whom  were  a 
deacon,  a  bushcutter,  a  sailor,  several  Jarmers,  and  an 
Irishman.  They  took  fresh  courage  at  their  superiority 
of  numbers  and  renewed  the  pursuit  with  redoubled  zeal. 
The  trail  soon  led  into  the  wildest  forests  and  through  the 
densest  swamps,  and  ere  long  separated  ;  but  as  they  had 
no  difficulty  in  detecting  in  the  new  snow  the  footprints 
of  the  shoes  worn  by  the  captives  from  those  of  the  moc- 
casons  of  the  Indians,  they  now  discovered  that  the  family 
had  also  been  separated,  and  that,  while  the  father  and 
one  daughter  had  gone  to  the  right,  the  other  two  daugh- 
ters had  gone  to  the  left. 

The  party  of  English  now  separated,  and  each  division 
was  to  pursue  the  enemy  until  they  overtook  and  recap- 
tured the  captives  ;  and  in  whichever  party  Chocorua 
might  be  discovered,  he  was,  by  general  consent,  to  be 
shot  at  once. 

Each  division  then  pursued  its  separate  trail  until  the 
gloom  of  darkness  began  to  settle  down  upon  the  woods, 
when,  just  as  they  began  to  think  it  time  to  select  a  suita- 
ble place  to  encamp  for  the  night,  the  two  trails  ran  into 
one  and  both  divisions  came  together.  The  division  which 
had  taken  the  right-hand  trail  struck  the  common  path 
first ;  and,  fearful  that  they  might  overtake  the  enemy  with 
only  half  their  force  and  thus  be  overpowered,  halted  for 
the  other  party  to  come  up.  While  they  thus  waited, 
fearful  that  the  others  had  encamped  for  the  night,  they 
discovered  a  light  gleaming  in  the  bushes  directly  in 
the  course  in  which  the  trail  led.  This  light  they  sup- 
posed to  proceed  from  the  encampment  of  their  foes,  and 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  237 

were  about  to  take  the  other  trail  and  return  to  their 
friends,  when  to  their  great  joy  they  saw  them  approach- 
ing. On  their  arrival  a  consultation  was  had  to  devise 
a  plan  for  further  proceedings,  which  resulted  in  their 
sending  out  Pike  to  reconnoitre  the  camp  of  the  enemy. 
He  soon  returned  and  reported  —  to  the  great  joy  of 
some,  but  to  the  greater  sorrow  of  others  of  the  braver 
part  of  the  company  —  that  what  they  saw  was  only  the 
lire  the  Indians  had  left  burning  after  taking  their  only 
meal  for  the  day. 

The  company  now  advanced  to  the  fire  ;  and,  as  the 
place  was  securely  shut  in  by  the  surrounding  bushes,  they 
thought  it  a  good  location  for  their  encampment  for  the 
night.  The  soldiers  now  threw  off  their  packs,  took  out 
their  blankets,  and  gathered  around  the  fire  ;  some  of  their 
number  bringing  wrood  for  the  fire,  while  others  set  about 
preparing  the  evening  meal. 

During  the  whole  of  the  day's  march  Rozella  had  ob- 
served that  one  of  the  young  lads,  whom  she  thought  quite 
too  young  to  engage  in  so  dangerous  an  excursion,  had 
kept  close  by  her  side  ;  and  when  the  company  separated 
on  the  different  trails  he  refused  to  go  in  that  division  to 
which  he/had  been  assigned,  but  insisted  on  joining  in 
that  to  which  she  belonged.  He"r  curiosity  being  some- 
what excited  by  his  singular  conduct,  and  wishing  to  learn 
something  concerning  him,  she  approached  the  spot  where 
he  was  sitting,  and,  as  no  one  in  those  primitive  days  was 
fettered  by  the  modern  scruples  respecting  introductions, 
(and  which  in  one  case,  we  believe,  caused  a  gentleman  to 
decline  rendering  assistance  to  a  drowning  lady  because 
he  had  never  had  an  introduction,)  entered  into  conversa- 
tion with  him. 

He  appeared  well  informed  and  sprightly,  and  was 
dressed  as  well  as  any  of  his  comrades.  His  cap  was  of 
coonskin,  doubled  upon  itself  and  sewed  up  at  the  sides, 


238  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

which  left  it  of  a  wedge  shape  ;  while  around  his  neck 
was  tied  a  thick  strip  of  flannel.  His  clothes  were  all  of 
domestic  manufacture,  but  were  comfortable  and  clean. 
He  wore  checked  trousers,  with  a  vest  of  the  same  pat- 
tern, and  a  blue  jacket,  of  fulled,  but  not  sheared  or 
pressed,  cloth. 

"  Well,  young  man,"  said  Rozella,  "  we  have  had  quite 
a  fatiguing  march  to-day." 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  the  youth  ;  "  to  me,  at  least,  it  has 
been  nothing  but  sport." 

"  Well,"  said  Rozella,  smiling,  "  you  are  resolute,  if  you 
are  young." 

"  Old  enough  for  the  redskins,"  returned  he  ;  "  but  as 
to  being  resolute,  that  will  be  better  determined  when  we 
overtake  the  bloody  critters." 

"  Right,"  replied  Rozella ;  "  but  permit  me  to  inquire 
your  name." 

"  Some  Smart,  ma'am,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Sam  Smart  ?  "  repeated  Rozella. 

"  Some  Smart,"  again  answered  the  lad. 

"  I  have  never  seen  you  before,"  continued  Rozella  ; 
"but  I  suppose  you  live  in  the  settlement." 

"  I  am  stopping  there  for  the  present,"  replied  Smart ; 
"  and,  hearing  of  this  massacre  last  night  and  the  capture 
of  the  Tuftons,  I  thought  I  should  like  to  join  in  the  sport 
of  pursuing  them  ;  for  may  be  I  should  get  a  chance  to 
shoot  one  of  the  critters." 

"  Is  your  gun  true  ?  "  inquired  Rozella. 

"  She's  smart,"  answered  Some. 

"  What  do  you  call  her  ?  "  pursued  Rozella. 

"  Fishhawk,"  replied  Smart ;  "  and  if  she  don't  pick  an 
Indian's  eye  afore  to-morrow  night  I'll  throw  her  into  the 
pond  for  the  fish  to  eat." 

Supper  was  now  served,  with  a  blanket  for  a  tablecloth, 
upon  several  pewter  plates,  and  was  immediately  sur- 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  239 

rounded  by  the  hungry  squad,  who  did  not  fail  to  do  it 
full  justice..  Smart  sat  beside  Rozella,  to  whom  he  was 
quite  polite  in  his  peculiar  way,  not  failing  to  assist  her 
to  whatever  was  in  his  reach.  He  soon  finished  his  meal, 
and  arose  and  s*tood  looking  at  the  fire ;  and,  as  all  were 
occupied  with  their  own  affairs,  and  the  plans  for  the  mor- 
row were  being  laid  out,  Rozella  ceased  to  interest  her- 
self for  the  present  in  young  Smart. 

All  at  once  the  terrific  howl  of  a  wolf  was  heard  di- 
rectly outside  the  circle.  They  all  sprang  to  their  feet, 
and  saw  an  enormous  gray  wolf  bounding  directly  before 
them,  with  eyes  fiery  and  glaring,  and  mouth  open  wide 
enough,  as  it  seemed  to  the  soldiers,  to  swallow  any  one  of 
them  at  a  bite.  He  bounded  between  them,  and,  leaping 
entirely  over  the  blanket,  disappeared  in  the  bushes  on 
the  opposite  side  with  a  howl  so  frightful  that  it  made  the 
woods  ring  in  every  direction,  until  its  wild  and  unearth- 
ly echo  died  away,  miles  off,  upon  the  sides  of  the  moun- 
tains. He  came  and  was  gone  before  any  one  could  bring 
his  gun  to  bear  upon  him  ;  but  one  or  two  discharged  their 
pieces  in  the  direction  of  his  disappearance  in  order  to 
keep  their  courage  up  and  to  intimidate  the  dreadful 
monster. 

"  No  sleeping  here  to-night,"  said  Squire  Langdell. 

11  It's  the  devil,"  said  Pete  Hardy. 

"  I  should  think,"  .said  Pike,  "  it  was  the  old  wolf  I 
shot  last  month  come  to  life  again,  from  the  hair  being 
gone  from  his  hip,  only  he  is  full  twice  as  large  ;  and  the 
howl  of  that  one  was  but  the  yelp  of  a  puppy  compared 
to  the  lionlike  thunder  of  this  fellow." 

"  Where  is  Smart  ?  "  asked  Rozella. 

"  Here  I  am,"  replied  Smart,  as  he  lay  curled  down  upon 
his  hip  just  behind  them. 

"  What  do  you  think,"  asked  Rozella,  "  of  such  a  mon- 
ster as  that?  and  what  sort  of  a  wolf  is  he  to  dash  through 
our  midst  with  such  tremendous  bounds  ?  " 


240  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

"  I  think/'  replied  he,  "  he  was  some  smart ;  "  and  dropped 
his  head  carelessly  upon  his  arm  to  rest. 

Presently  another  wolf  howled  far  away  in  the  swamp, 
as  if  in  answer  to  the  first. 

"  We  shall  have  the  whole  pack  upon  us  before  morn- 
ing," said  one  of  the  new  comers. 

"  Yes,"  responded  Pike  ;  "  with  the  Indians  on  one  side 
and  the  wolves  on  the  other  we  shall  be  between  two 
fires  ;  and  what  kind  of  a  chance  shall  we  stand  then  ?  " 
a^ked  he,  looking  at  Smart. 

"  A  smart  chance,"  replied  Some,  "  with  the  growling 
thunders  of  the  wolves  on  one  hand  and  the  thundering 
gun  barrels  of  the  Indians  on  the  other." 

"  Well,"  continued  Pike,  "  I  shall  stick  to  my  gun  and 
fight  to  the  last ;  but  such  a  little  specimen  as  you  are 
will  be  swallowed  at  the  first  mouthful." 

"  May  be  so,"  retorted  Smart.  "  No  doubt  you  will 
stick  to  your  gun  as  close  as  you  did  when  Chocorua's 
arrow  pinned  your  old  coat  to  your  hide,  while  you  were 
trying  to  back  out  of  the  scrape  and  threatening  to  shoot 
the  old  chap  if  he  advanced  another  step." 

All  laughed,  and  Pike  looked  surprised,  and  finally 
turned  to  one  of  the  party  and  asked,  — 

"  How  did  the  boy  know  that?  "  Then,  looking  at  him, 
he  added,  "  I  guess  you  are  rather  smart." 

"  Some,"  said  the  boy  ;  "  but  the  man  that  tumbles  over 
and  rolls  about  in  the  snow  drift  because  an  arrow  has 
grazed  his  ribs  must  be  a  great  deal  smarter." 

Captain  Grovenor  now  put  an  end  to  the  merriment  by 
informing  the  company  that  it  was  time  to  lie  down  to 
rest,  as  they  must  be  on  the  march  at  the  first  streak  of 
morning  light,  and  must  breakfast  before  they  started. 

"  What  three  men,"  asked  he,  "  will  stand  sentries  the 
first  half  of  the  night,  and  what  other  three  will  relieve 
them  for  the  remaining  half?" 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONlA.  241 

"  I  think,"  answered  Pike,  "  the  whole  company  had  bet- 
ter bivouac  ;  for,  as  we  have  both  wolves  and  savages  to 
contend  against,  three  men  will  hardly  be  enough  to  guard 
the  camp  to-night." 

"  I  think,"  observed  Smart,  "  that  every  man  had  better 
lie  down  and  roll  himself  up  snugly  in  his  blanket  while 
I  stand  sentry  alone  ;  and  if  any  Indian  or  wolf  ap- 
proaches I  will  give  the  alarm  before  he  gets  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  the  camp  or  forfeit  my  head." 

"  Bravo  I "  cried  Rozella,  enthusiastically  ;  and  "  Bra- 
vo ! "  responded  the  whole  band,  who,  although  they  did 
not  exactly  know  the  meaning  of  the  word,  took  it  for  a 
term  of  approval. 

"  He's  a  regular  breaking  up  team,"  shouted  the  farmer. 

"He's  a  perfect  stub  scythe,"  put  in  the  bushcutter. 

"  He's  a  gallant  craft,"  sung  out  the  sailor. 

"  He's  a  precious  volume,"  continued  the  deacon. 

"  And  not  bound  in  calf,  either,"  added  Rozella. 

"  It's  himself  that's  a  rale  smart  broth  of  a  lad,"  roared 
the  Irishman. 

"  Some  smart,"  rejoined  the  boy  ;  "  and  now  all  hands 
to  their  downy  pillows ;  for  I  take  the  post  of  sentry 
alone,  and  I  warrant  ye  it  will  not  suffer  in  my  .keeping." 

So  saying,  he  brought  his  gun  to  his  shoulder  with  a 
true  military  air,  throwing  his  weight  upon  his  left  foot, 
and  bringing  the  right  foot  forward  in  marching  position, 
with  the  toe  dropped  so  as  to  bring  the  sole  parallel  with 
the  ground,  and  commenced  his  beat  around  the  encamp- 
ment. 

The  soldiers  felt  so  much  confidence  in  the  youth,  who 
exhibited  so  much  courage  and  self-possession,  that  they 
immediately  stretched  themselves  upon  the  ground,  and 
were  soon  nearly  lost  in  the  silent  realms  of  sleep,  when 
the  plaintive  song  of  the  whippoorwill  was  heard  among 
the  trees,  and  each  man  sprang  to  his  elbow  as  though  it 
21 


242  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

was  the  wild  war  whoop  of  the  lurking  savage  which  he 
had  heard  rather  than  the  musical  note  of  the  night  bird. 
As  they  gazed  around  in  utter  astonishment  they  saw  their 
faithful  sentinel  still  "  walking  his  lonely  round,"  perfectly 
composed  and  undisturbed. 

"  A  whippoorwill  in  winter ! "  ejaculated  one. 

"  It  was  a  spirit !  "  said  another,  shuddering. 

The  next  moment  the  notes  of  a  mocking  bird  were 
heard  in  an  opposite  direction.  The  whole  scene  seemed 
fairylike  and  unreal.  The  long  pendants  of  innumerable 
icicles,  suspended  from  every  bough  of  the  surrounding 
trees,  glittered  in  the  flashing  flames  of  the  camp  fire,  and 
returned  a  thousand  rays  and  reflections  of  varied  yet  ex- 
quisite brilliancy  and  beauty.  No  one  now  dared  speak 
save  Rozella,  who  inquired,  in  a  low  voice,-— 

"  Mr.  Smart,  where  are  we,  and  whence  comes  this 
heavenly  music  of  the  birds?" 

"  We  are  in  fairyland,"  replied  Smart.  "  The  enchanted 
wolf  of  the  forest  has  called  up  the  spirits  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  they  have  taken  possession  of  the  place.  Let 
not  a  voice  be  heard,  for  we  are  on  enchanted  ground." 

All  now  wrapped  themselves  in  their  blankets  and 
looked  and  listened  with  all  their  eyes  and  ears,  but  did 
not  dare  to  speak.  As  they  again  relapsed  into  a  som- 
nambulic sleep,  or  trance,  the  music  commenced  again, 
sweeter  than  ever.  The  flames  flashed  forth  into  the  en- 
chanted forest  ;  the  spirits  danced  in  fantastic  quadrilles 
in  the  shadowy  recesses  of  the  rocks ;  and  flitting  forms, 
of  strange  and  unearthly  beauty  and  symmetry,  leaped 
into  life  as  the  silvery  sounds  broke  from  the  gushing 
throats  of  the  .invisible  performers.  The  long  cones 
of  the  glittering  icicles  jetted  from  the  nodding  boughs 
as  they  swayed  and  swung  to  and  fro  as  if  beating  time 
with  their  silver  batons  for  the  spirit  orchestra ;  and 
the  smouldering  brands  rose  upright,  and  were  metamor' 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  243 

phosed  into  merry  elves  and  fairies,  who  now  joined  in 
the  mystic  revels,  and  anon,  mounting  their  bat-winged 
steeds,  wheeled  and  were  lost  in  the  far-off  depths  of  the 
woods. 

As  these  shifting  scenes  and  dissolving  views  passed 
before  their  entranced  vision,  Rozella  murmured, — 

"  Elsie  —  dear  Elsie,  take  courage  ;  for  we  shall  soon 
be  with  you." 

"  Put  in  the  plough  beam  deep,"  snored  the  farmer. 

"He  —  0  —  he  !  "  sung  the  sailor.  "  Put  on  every  inch 
of  canvas  she  will  bear,  and  let  her  drive  before  the 
wind." 

"  Yes,"  grunted  the  bushcutter,  "  put  the  old  stub  in  up 
to  the  heel." 

"  I  have  come,"  said  the  deacon,  with  his  face  drawn 
out  in  a  satirical  smile,  "  into  this  wilderness  to  restore 
liberty  to  the  captives,  and  shall  accomplish  my  mission 
and  cut  the  cords  by  which  they  are  bound,  even  if 
I  have  to  cut  my  way  through  murderous  councils  and 
reeking  scalps  to  reach  them.  And  I  have  no  doubt  I 
shall  so  far  succeed  as  to  impress  my  auditory  with  the 
doctrine  that  resistance  to  Chocorua  is  obedience  to 
the  king." 

"Yes,"  chimed  in  Pike,  "we  will  continue  the  service 
of  the  king  by  the  use  of  the  first  twang  ; "  at  the  same 
time  bringing  down  his  heavy  iron  pitchpipe  upon  the 
nose  of  the  sleeping  Pete  Hardy,  which  made  him  snore 
a  louder  blast  than  usual.  "  Hold  on  !  that  ain't  the 
right  pitch  ;  sound  again,  and  sing  the  following  lines 
as  an  appropriate  setpiece  after  the  deacon's  weighty 
remarks  :  — 


Threat !  what  an  empty  vapor  'tis, 
When  in  the  drifting  snow ; 

Swift  as  an  Indian  arrow  flies 
From  Cho-co-ru-a's  bow.' " 


244  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

"Be  jabers."  growled  the  Irishman,  "and  it's  meself 
that's  wid  ye  there ;  and  it's  the  big  shelaly  they'll  be 
afthcr  catchin'  upon  the  sconce  of  thim  ;  and  the  divil  a 
bit  of  shamrock  the  murtherin'  rapscallions  '11  see  stuck 
in  their  faces  when  Ronsel  O'Donnegan  gets  a  chance  to 
stop  their  botheration." 

"  Right,"  groaned  the  squire,  suddenly  jerking  up  one 
leg,  "  tie  them  down  with  this  chain-lightning  rheumatism 
which  is  burning  my  hip  —  that  will  make  them  smart." 

u  Some  Smart !  "  shouted  the  sentinel,  as  daylight  began 
to  dawn,  and  following  up  his  shout  so  frightfully  that  it 
made  the  whole  woods  ring  and  brought  every  soldier  on 
his  feet  wide  awake  again. 

"  All  right  at  last,"  cried  the  captain  ;  and  "  All  right," 
responded  every  soldier. 

"  Where  is  the  sentinel  ?  "  inquired  the  captain,  looking 
about  the  encampment. 

"  0,  the  wolf!  the  wolf ! "  screamed  a  dozen  voices  ;  and 
the  next  instant  the  same  mysterious  wolf  they  had  seen 
the  evening  previous  dashed  through  the  encampment 
with  open  mouth  and  howling  most  hideously.  So  fright- 
ened were  the  whole  party  that  no  one  thought  of  dis- 
charging his  piece  at  him ;  and  he  galloped  to  the  edge 
of  the  bushes  and  disappeared.  All  were  frightened 
nearly  out  of  their  senses  ;  and  each  man  looked  to  ascer- 
tain if  his  priming  was  dry. 

*  Where  is  Smart  ?  "  asked  one. 

"  The  wolf  has  eaten  him,"  replied  another. 

"  We  must  call  him,"  shouted  a  dozen  voices  ;  and  the 
woods  echoed  and  reechoed  with  the  name  of  Smart. 

"Halloo,  you  noisy  chaps!"  answered  he,  directly  at 
their  feet,  where  he  lay  crouched  down  upon  his  elbow 
and  hip  again.  "  Can't  you  let  me  catch  a  nap,  now  that 
it  is  'most  daylight,  since  I  have  called  you  up  in  season?" 
asked  he. 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  245 

"  You  promised,"  said  Pike,  "  to  call  us  before  any  Indian 
or  wolf  should  come  within  a  hundred  yards." 

"  So  I  did,"  replied  Smart ;   "  the  wolf  did  not  come 
within  a  hundred  yards  before  you  were  all  up." 

"  Well,"  replied  Pike,  "  if  he  came  that  distance  in  so 
short  a  time,  he  must  be  a  smart  wolf." 

"  He  is  some  smart,"  rejoined  the  boy,  as  he  dropped 
again  upon  his  elbow. 
21* 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


Interview  between  Rozella  and  Chocorua.  —  Battle  at  Bear  Camp 
Stream.  —  Capture  op  Chocorua. 


The  breakfast  was  soon  prepared  and  despatched,  and 
the  company  commenced  their  march.  Hard  jokes  were 
cracked  by  Smart  upon  their  credulity ;  for  after  mutual 
consultation  they  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the 
wolf  which  had  been  disturbing  them  during  the  night 
was  some  witch  or  enchantress.  Most  of  them  declared 
they  had  not  once  shut  their  eyes  during  the  whole  night ; 
and  the  farmer  had  to  recount  his  ploughing,  the  deacon 
his  preaching,  and  the  sailor  the  craft  with  which  he  ran 
into  the  Indians.  But  Pete  Hardy  thought  it  must  have 
been  his  nose  which  he  ran  into,  for  it  still  had  a  twang 
like  a  cable  in  a  squall.  The  squire  insisted  that  he  had 
finally  bound  the  spirits  fast  with  rheumatic  chain  light- 
ning ;  and  if  so,  they  would  stay  bound  a  thousand  years. 
But  Pike  declared  that  he  it  was  who  laid  them  all  by  the 
melodious  strains  of  his  music,  and  added  that  nothing 
else  could  lay  such  ghosts  as  they,  for  they  were  right 
smart. 

"  They  were  some  smart,"  replied  the  sentinel.  "  But," 
continued  he,  "  they  were  not  laid  lower  than  you  were  by 
the  arrow  '  from  Cho-co-ru-a's  bow  ; ' "  which  allusion 
seemed  to  touch  the  sore  spot  in  Pike's  breast ;  and  he 
chafed  and  nettled  and  fumed  under  it  for  some  time. 

(246) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  247 

They  all  supposed  the  encampment  to  have  been  en- 
chanted by  both  good  and  evil  spirits. 

But  the  sun  was  now  far  up,  and  they,  too,  were  far  up 
among  the  hills  ;  and  as  they  hastened  forward  they  came 
suddenly  upon  the  spot  where  the  Indians  had  encamped 
the  previous  night.  The  fires  were  still  burning,  though 
low ;  and  there  was  also  a  hut  of  hemlock  boughs  suffi- 
ciently large  and  evidently  used 'as  a  shelter  for  a  horse, 
through  one  corner  of  which  ran  a  small  rivulet,  while  two 
trees  at  one  side  had  served  to  support  the  cut  grass  which 
had  been  used  as  forage.  The  soldiers  now  broiled  a  little 
more  beef,  and,  hastily  devouring  it,  pushed  on,  Rozella 
taking  the  lead,  as  they  expected  to  arrive  soon  at  the 
head  quarters  of  the  Pequawketts. 

When  Rozella  should  discover  the  smoke  of  their  wig- 
wams she  was  to  give  the  signal ;  and  the  whole  company 
were  to  conceal  themselves  until  she  had  advanced  to  and 
tried  her  eloquence  upon  Chocorua  for  the  deliverance  of 
the  captives. 

It  was  nearly  noon  when  she  discovered  the  encampment 
of  the  Pequawketts  upon  what  is  now  called  Bear  Camp 
Stream  in  Albany,  formerly  Boston.  She  instantly  gave 
the  signal ;  and  the  whole  company  immediately  concealed 
themselves  in  such  a  way  as  to  be  able  to  keep  a  close 
watch  upon  all  the  coming  proceedings.  Rozella  walked 
deliberately  towards  the  encampment,  and,  when  within 
about  twenty  yards  of  the  wigwam,  found  herself  face  to 
face  with  five  muscular  and  swarthy  Indians,  who  had  as 
deliberately  walked  out  to  meet  her.  They  commanded 
her  to  stop,  although  they  did  not  attempt  to  seize  her,  as 
they  knew  her  to  be  the  same  person  whom  they  saw  at 
the  funeral  of  Wenane.  At  length  one  of  them,  advancing 
towards  her,  said  more  sternly,  — 

"The  young  white  squaw  can  go  no  farther  until  she 
makes  known  her  business." 


248  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

"  I  wish,"  answered  Kozella,  still  walking  towards  the 
lodge,  "to  see  your  chief." 

"  For  what  purpose  ?  "  demanded  her  interrogator. 

"  If  I  am  to  confer  with  you,"  returned  Rozella,  "  what 
is  the  need  of  my  seeing  the  chief? " 

They  now  stepped  before  her  to  prevent  her  farther 
advance ;  but  as  she  continued  resolutely  to  go  forward, 
they  gave  way  and  allowed  her  to  proceed.  As  she  was 
approaching  the  lodge  the  savage  who  had  hitherto  offici- 
ated as  spokesman  again  spoke,  and  offered,  if  she  would 
advance  no  farther,  to  call  the  chief. 

"Go,"  said  Rozella,  with  queenly  dignity,  as  she  still 
continued  to  advance,  and  reached  the  entrance  just  as 
Chocorua  made  his  appearance. 

11  Why  is  the  Forest  Queen  here  ?  "  sternly  asked  he. 

"  I  am  here,"  answered  Rozella,  "  for  the  release  of  my 
friend  Elsie  Tufton,  her  father,  and  sisters." 

"  Fool ! "  contemptuously  sneered  Chocorua  ;  "  did  I  not 
tell  the  white  squaw,  when  I  last  walked  with  her  to  her 
father's  house,  that  I  had  performed  the  last  kind  act  of 
friendship  I  would  ever  show  a  paleface  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  a  kind  act  or  an  act  of  friendship,"  replied 
Rozella,  "  that  I  ask  ;  but  it  is  justice,  stern  justice  alone, 
for  which  I  came  hither." 

"  Murder  a  man's  son,"  hissed  the  chief  through  his 
closed  teeth,  "  take  from  him  all  he  holds  dear  and  all 
that  makes  life  desirable,  and  then  ask  him  in  the  name  of 
justice  not  to  take  revenge  !  Will  the  white  squaw  leap 
into  that  rushing  stream,  and  ask  its  angry  waters  in  the 
name  of  justice  not  to  swallow  her  up  ?  How  dare  she  be 
so  reckless  of  her  life  as  to  approach  the  wigwam  of  the 
Pequawketts  in  a  time  like  this  ?  The  war  has  already 
begun,  and  the  time  of  peace  past  never  to  return  ;  and 
when  the  young  white  squaw  comes  to  the  tent  of  the  great 
chief  and  greater  warrior,  it  is  indeed  bearding  the  angry 
lion  in  his  don.7' 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  249 

"  Chocorua  is  not  only  a  great  chief  but  a  great  lion  of 
the  tribe  of  the  Pequawketts,  as  I  know  full  well,"  replied 
Rozella  ;  "  and  I  have  come  to  take  an  innocent  lamb 
from  his  jaws." 

"  As  well  might  you  take  the  corpse  from  the  jaws  of 
death,"  was  the  stern  reply  ;  "  and  I  am  death  on  the  pale- 
faces. And,"  continued  he,  "  it  rejoiced  my  heart  to  make 
them  break  the  path  hither  for  my  white  war  horse,  upon 
which  I  sat,  followed  by  my  braves,  while  the  white  dogs 
went  on  foot." 

"  You  are  not  death  on  the  palefaces,  then,"  interrupted 
another  voice,  "  but  death  on  the  pale  horse,  with  hell  fol- 
lowing after." 

"  Begone,  puppy  of  the  palefaces !  "  cried  Chocorua,  in 
great  wrath,  and  adding,  as  he  glanced  at  Rozella,  **  Why 
did  you  bring  this  yelping  cur  with  you  ?  For  your  pro- 
tection, I  suppose.  Could  I  reach  him,  I  would  make  him 
smart." 

"  Some  smart,"  replied  the  boy,  as  he  jumped  back  out 
of  reach. 

"  Chocorua,"  asked  Rozella,  "  are  you  not,  lion  as  you 
are,  satiated  with  the  blood  you  have  already  drank  ? " 

"  I  am  for  the  present,"  replied  the  chief ;  "  for  is  not 
the  lamb  in  the  tent  still  alive  ?  n 

"  Why,  then,"  asked  Rozella,  "  should  you  keep  her 
longer  ?  " 

"  Does  not  the  lion,"  answered  the  chief,  "  when  he  has 
devoured  the  dam  and  become  satiated  with  blood,  still 
retain  its  young  for  his  further  amusement  ?  " 

"  Monster! "  cried  Rozella,  "  what  mean  you  ?  I  thought 
the  honor  of  a  woman,  in  the  hands  of  an  Indian,  however 
deeply  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  innocent  and  unof- 
fending they  might  be,  was  safe  and  sacred." 

"  And  the  Forest  Queen,"  returned  Chocoruaj  "  has 
not  that  fact  to  learn,  for  she  has  spoken  the  truth  al- 
ready." 


250  LEGENDS   OF   LACOXIA. 

"  What  is  your  meaning,  then  ?  "  continued  Rozella. 

"  To  set  her  up  for  a  target,"  replied  the  chief,  with  a 
hideous  grin,  "  and  make  the  arrows  tear  up  the  soft  flesh 
by  piecemeals,  and  then  drop  in  the  hot  ashes  and  hear 
her  cry  out  and  scream." 

"  Infamous  wretch  !  "  indignantly  exclaimed  Rozella. 
"  Chocorua  is  no  longer  a  lion  ;  for  the  lion  devours  his 
prey  at  once,  and  does  not  sport  with  the  death  agonies 
of  his  helpless  victim.  The  corpse  in  the  jaws  of  death  is 
in  an  enviable  position  compared  with  that  of  her  in  this 
tent  and  in  the  jaws  of  Chocorua." 

"  Ay,"  responded  Chocorua  ;  "  she  is  in  the  jaws  of 
death,  and  his  sharp  teeth  shall  crush  and  craunch  her 
bones  into  pumice,  while  her  rich,  warm  blood  shall  drip 
from  his  mouth  and  run  down  over  his  broad,  manly  breast. 
Her  blood  will  be  sweeter  to  his  taste  than  the  honey  dew 
of  the  summer  flower  is  to  the  wandering  bee  ;  and  her 
white  flesh  will  be  a  morsel  as  much  sweeter  than  the 
blood  as  the  meat  of  the  wild  deer  is  better  than  the 
deadly  hemlock  ye  steep  to  poison  the  only  son  of  a 
chief." 

Rozella  could  hardly  restrain  herself  while  the  chief 
was  speaking  ;  and  when  he  closed  she  approached  still 
nearer  to  him  and  said,  — '. 

"  Is  it  the  demon  now  standing  before  me  who  talks  of 
his  broad,  manly  breast  ?  That  breast  is  harder  than  the 
granite  mountain  which  rises  before  us,  and  it  is  blacker 
than  the  darkness  of  the  infernal  pit ;  and  should  but  one 
of  your  poisonous  fangs  break  her  delicate  skin  and  let 
out  that  pure  and  innocent  blood  it  will  be  but  a  bitter 
draught  to  your  depraved  taste." 

"  Bitter?"  angrily  reiterated  the  chief. 

"  Ay,"  replied  Rozella,  scornfully  and  contemptuously, 
as  she  looked  him  in  the  face,  "bitter  as  death  itself." 

So  furiously  flashed  her  eye,  and   so  intense  was  the 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  251 

scorn  that  curled  her  lip,  that  the  chief  thought  her 
suddenly  transformed  into  a  supernatural  being,  and,  in 
great  alarm,  shouted  for  his  warriors  to  come  to  the 
rescue. 

14  Take  her,"  cried  he,  as  they  approached,  "  and  bind 
her  with  the  others.  Her  blood  shall  flow  before  the  sun 
goes  down  ;  for  she  has  forfeited  all  claim  to  my  friend- 
ship or  protection." 

Half  a  dozen  savages  instantly  dragged  her  into  the 
lodge  and  tied  her  hand  and  foot  with  the  other  victims. 
The  English  had  all  the  while  been  concealed  but  atten- 
tive observers  of  all  that  had  passed  ;  and  when  Rozella 
was  dragged  into  the  lodge  Captain  Grovenor  sternly  or- 
dered his  men  to  advance  and  give  no  quarter.  The  In- 
dians saw  their  approach,  and,  with  their  muskets  in  hand 
and  their  bows  slung  over  their  shoulders,  rushed  out  to 
meet  them.  The  Indians  gave  a  scattering  fire  and  then 
made  for  the  rocks  and  trees  ;  but  before  they  had 
reached  their  coverts  three  reached  the  goal  of  death. 
The  others  fired  from  behind  the  rocks  and  trees,  and,  as 
the  English  followed  up,  hastily  retreated  to  other  places 
of  shelter.  After  the  skirmish  had  continued  nearly  an 
hour,  and  resulted  in  the  death  of  two  of  the  English  and 
six  of  their  foes,  the  Indians,  foreseeing  that,  unless  they 
could  escape  to  the  mountain,  they  must  be  exterminated, 
resolved  to  make  the  desperate  attempt,  and  at  the  same 
time  wreak  their  vengeance  upon  the  captives.  Three  of 
the  most  daring,  in  pursuance  of  this  resolution,  started  at 
the  same  moment  and  took  a  wide  circuit  around  the 
swamp  into  which  they  had  been  driven,  and,  when  they 
had  retreated  sufficiently  far  to  draw  their  pursuers  out 
of  sight  of  the  lodge,  ran  back  to  it  at  their  utmost  speed 
to  kill  and  scalp  their  captives  previous  to  their  retreat  to 
the  mountain  ;  but  when  they  drew  near  the  lodge  they 


252  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

were  not  only  surprised  to  behold  the  captives  all  rejoi- 
cing in  their  freedom,  but  were  astonished  and  frightened 
beyond  all  measure  at  the  sight  of  a  monstrous  gray  wolf, 
seated  upon  Chocorua's  white  war  horse,  which,  at  their 
appearance,  commenced  turning  somersets  on  the  back  of 
the  horse,  and  finally,  with  a  long  knife  in  its  paw  and 
howling  most  hideously,  rode  furiously  upon  them.  Panic- 
struck,  they  ran  for  their  lives,  crying  out  in  their  terror, 
"  The  enchanted  wolf  of  the  forest  —  the  wild  spirit  of  the 
mountains ! "  The  other  Indians,  hearing  the  outcry,  took 
up  and  reechoed  the  alarming  intelligence,  and  fled  in  ter- 
ror and  dismay. 

About  half  of  the  party  of  English  returned v  to  the 
lodge  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  others  ;  but  these,  with 
Captain  Grovenor,  had  taken  the  track  of  Chocorua,  de- 
termined never  to  return  until  his  life  should  pay  the  pen- 
alty of  the  destruction  of  their  captain's  family  at  their 
hands.  His  trail  led  directly  up' the  steep  and  lofty  moun- 
tain in  Albany  that  now  bears  his  name.  The  soldiers 
soon  caught  sight  of  the  old  chief,  vigorously  ascending 
the  steep  cliffs  far  above  their  heads,  and,  resolved  not  to 
be  outdone,  as  vigorously  followed.  Chocorua  had  taken 
the  only  path  by  which  the  mountain's  peak  was  accessi- 
ble, and  there  was  no  avenue  of  escape  on  the  other  side 
of  the  mountain  ;  therefore,  when  he  gained  the  summit, 
hotly  pursued  by  the  soldiers,  and  saw  before  him  a  sheer 
descent  of  hundreds  of  feet,  whose  precipitous  sides  were 
rough  and  jagged  and  whose  terminus  was  lost  in  misty 
darkness,  he  saw  that  further  retreat  was  impossible,  and 
came  to  a  stand. 
"  Jump,"  shouted  Grovenor,  "  or  we  shoot." 
"  Shoot,  then,  if  ye  must,"  replied  Chocorua  ;  "  for  the 
warm  life  that  throbs  in  this  manly  frame  is  the  gift  of 
the  Great  Spirit ;  and  Chocorua  is  too  faithful  to  his  trust 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  253 

to  throw  it  away."  Then,  turning  towards  them  and 
drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  he  continued  :  "  Let 
the  paleface  shoot  if  he  will ;  but  let  him  hear  before  he 
strikes." 

"  Hear  him,"  responded  the  soldiers  ;  "  let  the  old  dog 
speak  and  preach  his  own  funeral  sermon." 
22 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 


Chocorua's  dying  Speech. — His  Death — Speeches  of  his  Captors, 

EACH  AFTER   HIS   OWN   PECULIAR   SlYLE   OF   ORATORY. 


"  Chocorua,"  rejoined  the  chief,  "  is  no  dog  ;  for,  had 
he  been,  he  would  have  swallowed  your  insults  and  your 
cruel  murders  without  daring  to  fasten  his  teeth  upon  such 
bloody  wolves  as  ye  are  or  revenging  his  many  wrongs. 
Neither  will  he  preach  his  own  funeral  sermon  ;  for  he  is 
not  used,  like  the  whining  whelps  before  him,  to  preach- 
ing peace  and  deliverance  to  the  down-trodden  and 
oppressed  while  his  throat  is  parched  and  dry  with  thirst 
for  their  blood.  A  base  pack  of  hypocrites  are  ye,  who 
prate  about  light,  and  yet  do  every  conceivable  deed 
that  the  blackness  of  darkness  can  conceal.  Neither  will 
it  be  necessary  for  the  last  brave  sagamore  of  the  Pequaw- 
ketts  to  preach  his  own  funeral  sermon  ;  for,  while  this 
eternal  mountain  stands  pointing  to  the  heavens,  it  will 
tell  of  this  foul  deed  of  treachery  and  slaughter.  Its  tow- 
ering summit,  baptized  in  the  red  .man's  blood  and  or- 
dained by  the  cloudy  hand  that  Heaven  lays  upon  its  brow, 
shall  do  the  preaching  of  Chocorua  when  your  infamous 
names  shall  be  blasted  by  the  breath  of  justice  and  forgot- 
ten, or,  if  held  in  remembrance,  recalled  only  to  be  de- 
spised and  execrated.  Then  shall  the  cry  of  blood  from 
the  sacrificial  altar  of  this  mountain  go  up  to  Heaven,  and 
the  rocks,  which  to-day  are  softer  than  your  petrified 


LEGENDS  OF  LA  CON!  A.  255 

hearts,  melt  in  the  fierce  fires  of  their  own  wrath.  The 
mouths  of  the  crags  shall  whisper  it  to  the  zephyrs  of 
morning;  and  the  yawning  gulfs  shall  belch  it  forth  to 
the  blasts  of  evening  ;  and  the  glistening  crystal  eyes  of 
the  rocks  shall  reflect  it  to  the  passer  by,  and  weep  scald- 
ing tears  of  remorse  and  shame.  Your  usurping  feet  have 
marched  with  blighting  step  over  the  lands  of  our  inherit- 
ance and  the  graves  of  our  fathers.  To  our  entreaties  ye 
have  turned  a  deaf  ear,  and  to  our  solemn  compacts  ye 
have  proved  faithless.  To  the  red  man  ye  have  been  but 
a  scourge  and  a  curse.  Ye  have  robbed  him  of  his  senses 
with  your  firewater,  and  of  his  hunting  grounds  by  your 
parchments.  Ye  said  we  were  all  brothers,  and  as  broth- 
ers we  would  live  and  thrive  together  ;  and  some  of  our 
older  sachems,  like  the  great  Passaconnaway,  and  his  son 
Wannalancet  of  the  Pennacooks,  and  the  worthy  Mas- 
sasoit,  and  Alexander  of  the  Wampanoags,  were  so  credu- 
lous as  to  believe  you.  But  after  gaining  their  confidence 
and  friendship  you  robbed  them,  not  only  of  the  lands 
upon  which  they  lived,  but  of  the  very  air  they  breathed 
and  the  light  by  which  they  walked. 

"You  compassed  not  only  sea  and  land,  but  the  heavens 
themselves,  to  effect  their  robbery.  Thus  cajoled  and 
cheated  out  of  all  they  possessed,  they  had  nothing  left  to 
do  but  to  turn  their  sorrowing  faces  to  the  earth,  from 
whence  they  came.  And  so,  with  their  gray  hairs  trailing 
over  their  aged  and  grief-furrowed  cheeks,  as  if  to  hide 
their  tears  from  the  glaring  eyes  of  their  relentless  perse- 
cutors, they  died. 

44  Not  satisfied  with  this,  you  pushed  your  war  of  exter- 
mination far  up  through  these  fertile  valleys  by  yonder  sil- 
very waters  lying  underneath  the  mountain's  jutting  brow, 
like  the  eye  of  earth  fringed  by  the  protecting  lashes  of 
the  forest  trees.  Here,  with  these  sacred  waters,  which 
are  the  smile  of  the  Great  Spirit,  ye  have  sacrilegiously 


256  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

mingled  the  blood  of  my  fathers.  Here  fell  Paugus,  whose 
office  and  mantle,  though  I  buried  the  hatchet  and  smoked 
the  calumet  of  peace  with  the  treacherous  palefaces,  has 
fallen  on  my  unworthy  shoulders.  But,  thanks  to  the 
Great  Spirit,  I  stand  here  to-day  to  wipe  out  the  foul  blot 
brought  upon  the  name  of  Paugus  ;  and  if  my  body  is  a 
sufficient  sacrifice  to  redeem  my  faithlessness  to  him,  I 
willingly  offer  it ;  or  if  my  blood  will  wash  out  the  dis- 
grace I  have  brought  upon  his  name,  it  shall  run  freely. 

"  ?Twas  but  around  yonder  point  of  the  Ossipee,  where 
the  waters  glisten  in  the  sun,  that  great  Paugus  fell,  and 
with  him  the  glory  and  renown  of  the  Pequawketts.  At 
that  fall  the  angry  clouds  of  heaven,  black  and  lowering, 
rushed  down  around  the  murdered  corpse,  and  the  deafen- 
ing thunders  shook  the  guilty  earth  as  the  lightnings 
leaped  from  cliff  to  cliff  along  the  mountain  sides.  Would 
that  Chocorua  could  have  fallen  upon  the  same  spot !  for 
'tis  sacred  ground.  But  my  bosom  lightens  and  my  heart 
leaps  with  joy  to  think  that  I  fall  so  near  it.  But  with 
me  falls  the  last  chief  of  the  Pequawketts.  I  have  no  suc- 
cessor, for  ye  have  slain  Wenane  before  me.  My  death 
will  be  the  red  man's  gain  ;  for  justice  falls  not  with  Cho- 
corua, nor  will  vengeance  sleep  with  his  bones.  Pometa- 
cone,  the  King  of  the  Wampanoags,  still  lives  ;  and  Taurus, 
whose  base  treatment  of  the  Forest  Queen  no  one  despises 
more  heartily  than  myself,  has  gone  to  the  St.  Francis 
tribe  to  rally  the  French  forces  under  the  Marquis  de 
Yaudricul,  together  with  the  Nepissins  and  the  Aberdines  ; 
and  these,  under  the  command  of  King  Philip,  will  soon 
rid  the  land  of  such  bloodthirsty  wolves  as  ye  are.  Then 
Waldron,  of  whom  ye  boast  so  much,  will  share  the  fate 
of  him  whose  tainted  blood  runs  in  his  veins,  and  for 
whose  infamous  treachery  in  deceiving  and  selling  into 
slavery  two  hundred  of  the  brave  Ossipees  he  ultimately 
lost  his  life.     So  shall  it  be  witli  his  son.     That  night  ho 


LEGENDS  OF   LACOXIA.  257 

left  for  Cape  Breton  he  boasted  that  from  his  cradle  he 
had  fed  on  tears  and  been  nurtured  on  blood  —  the  food 
of  the  savage  beasts  of  the  forest.  If,  then,  like  a  beast 
he  has  fed  and  fattened,  like  a  beast  shall  he  be  slain,  and 
like  a  beast  shall  his  unburied  body  be  left  to  feed  and 
fatten  the  loathsome  birds  of  prey  whose  flagging  wings 
are  closely  folded  over  the  valley  of  corruption.  And  the 
same  stern  justice  shall  be  meted  out  to  Vaughan,  Moulton, 
and  Harmon,  who  stole  away  like  lurking  assassins  to  the 
happy  band  at  Norridgewock  and  brutally  murdered  them, 
together  with  their  good  father,  Ralle,  the  evangelist. 
There  he  had  gathered  and  endeavored  to  make  good  Chris- 
tians of  those  who  were  under  his  charge,  and  who  became 
his  faithful  followers  and  disciples.  There  the  little  church 
was  seen  with  its  cross  rising  amid  the  forest  trees,  and 
there  over  the  door  swung  out  the  banner  of  love.  Upon 
that  banner  were  the  cross,  and  the  bow  and  arrow  of  the 
red  man.  The  cross  declared  to  the  world  that  blood 
enough  had  already  been  spilt  for  its  redemption  ;  the 
bow  was  a  sign  that  the  earth  should  nevermore  be  del- 
uged by  a  flood  of  human  gore  ;  and  the  arrows,  pointing 
to  the  cross,  made  plain  to  all  eyes  the  sharp  and  piercing 
pains  with  which  their  salvation  had  been  purchased. 
There  perpetually  went  up  the  offerings  of  prayer  and 
praise  ;  and  hardly  had  the  morning  oblation  died  away 
ere  the  evening  vesper  was  heard  mingling  and  rising  with 
the  ascending  orison. 

"  Westbrook  had  previously  stolen  the  strong  box  of 
Ralle,  and  used  the  private  papers  and  letters  he  found 
therein  to  excite  the  people  to  massacre  him  ;  and  Moul- 
ton and  Harmon  were  the  accursed  instruments  to  strike 
the  final  blow.  The  good  priest  rushed  to  the  foot  of  the 
cross  to  save  his  flock  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself;  and 
they  in  turn  rallied  around  him,  and  formed  a  breastwork 
of  their  bodies  for  his  defence  ;  and  both  priest  and  peo- 
22* 


258  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

pie  fell  willing  sacrifices  for  a  common  cause.  And  the 
scalp  of  the  murdered  father,  with  those  of  eighty  Indians, 
were  borne  away  from  the  foot  of  that  cross  still  reeking 
in  the  warm  blood  of  the  slaughtered  victims,  and  the 
church,  with  the  cross  and  flag,  consumed  by  the  raging 
flames.  Think  ye  the  ears  of  the  Great  Spirit  heard  not 
their  dying  cries  ?  Think  ye  that  he  will  not  strengthen 
the  arm  of  the  red  man  that  he  may  avenge  his  wrongs  ? 
If  ye  do  not  believe  in  his  almighty  power,  tremble  ;  and 
if  ye  do  believe,  then  tremble  the  more,  for  your  destruc- 
tion is  sure  and  speedy.  But  I  see  that  some  of  you  have 
thrown  down  your  arms.  Ye  need  not  be  afraid  to  kill, 
for  Chocorua  is  not  afraid  to  die.  Behind  yon  western 
cloud  linger  the  white-winged  spirits  upon  the  fleet  steeds 
of  the  sky  to  convey  him  to  the  happy  hunting  grounds 
whither  his  only  son  has  just  gone,  and  where  usurpers 
and  murderers  like  yourselves  can  never  come.  And 
although  this  body  may  fall  into  the  dark  gulf  now  yawn- 
ing beneath  me,  yet  the  spirit  shall  pass  safely  over  it  upon 
the  bridge  of  faith,  and  in  full  life  and  perfect  liberty  run 
up  its  starry  pathway,  bounding  homeward  to  the  Great 
Spirit  who  gave  it.  And  now  Chocorua  with  his  dying 
breath  curses  you ;  and  the  land  of  which  you  have  robbed 
him  shall  be  accursed  for  your  sakes.  Chocorua  has  fin- 
ished ;  and  his  foes  may  now  strike." 

11  Ready  ! "  commanded  the  captain  ;  and,  as  the  click 
of  the  guns  was  heard,  the  old  chief,  raising  himself  to  his 
full  height,  replied,  — 

"lam." 

"  Aim  ! "  continued  the  captain. 

"  At  me,"  responded  the  undaunted  chief. 

And,  at  the  word  "  Fire  ! "  three  guns  were  discharged, 
and  the  lifeless  body  of  the  last  chief  of  the  Pequawketts, 
pierced  by  three  balls,  fell  headlong  over  the  precipice 
and  disappeared  in  the  gloomy  gulf  below.  For  a  moment 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  259 

all  around,  above,  and  beneath  was  as  still  as  the  deep 
grave  of  the  fallen  chief;  and  then  Captain  Grovenor, 
turning  to  the  men  who  had  not  discharged  their  pieces, 
asked,  in  a  stern  voice,  — 

"  Why  did  you  disobey  my  orders  ?  " 

No  reply  was  made  ;  but  there  stood  the  Irishman  with 
a  long  evergreen  in  his  hand,  extending  it  over  the  edge 
of  the  dark  chasm ;  the  farmer  clasping  with  both  hands 
two  jagged  limbs  of  a  scrub  oak,  as  if  he  were  holding  a 
plough  ;  the  sailor  was  lashing  the  limbs  of  another  small 
tree  closely  around  its  trunk,  as  if  he  had  taken  in  his 
sails  and  was  lying  at  anchor ;  while  the  bushcutter  was 
standing  by  another  tree,  on  whose  fork  ho  had  suspended 
a  crooked  stick." 

The  captain,  observing  the  cold  and  unsympathizing 
looks  of  these  men,  seemed  to  think  some  apology  neces- 
sary for  the  act  just  committed,  and  in  a  husky  voice 
exclaimed,  — 

"  As  for  me,  I  fired  to  silence  the  groans  of  my  massa- 
cred family,  and  to  see  if  his  running  blood  would  not 
cleanse  my  mind  of  the  memory  of  the  loss  I  have  sus- 
tained." 

"  And  I,"  said  Pike,  "  for  the  purpose  of  healing  this 
smarting  wound  in  my  breast,  and  to  see  what  key  the 
crack  of  a  musket  would  give  in  this  mountain  air." 

"  And  I,"  chimed  in  the  deacon,  "  for  the  glory  of  my 
mission,  and  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that  revenge  and 
punishment  are  better  than  forgiveness  and  mercy  ;  for  it 
is  written, '  Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his 
blood  be  shed ; '  and,  '  He  that  taketh  the  sword  shall 
perish  by  the  sword.'  Moreover,  we  must  obey  our 
rulers." 

"  All  who  have  obeyed,"  said  the  captain,  "  have  a  good 
reason  for  so  doing ;  but  what  can  these  other  crazy  fel- 
lows say  for  themselves  ?  "    And  as  he  thus  spoke  the  cap- 


260  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

tain,  thinking  the  Irishman  the  weakest  of  the  disaffected 
band,  and  therefore  the  safest  on  whom  to  commence  the 
attack,  continued,  "Konsel  O'Donnegan,  how  do  you  ac- 
count for  your  cowardly  conduct  ?  " 

**  Faith,"  responded  Konsel, li  and  isn't  it  meself  that  is 
as  good  a  rebel  as  the  bloodiest  of  ye  ?  I  stood  resting 
on  the  breech  of  my  gun,  and  the  muzzle  of  the  crayther 
upon  the  toe  of  me,  and  stood  up  to  the  fight  as  bould  as 
a  cockerel,  —  I  did, — until  the  ould  chief  spoke  of  the 
cross,  and  the  mass,  and  the  vespers ;  and  then  it  was 
meself  that  just  drew  back  the  feet  of  me,  and  gave  the 
bloody  pace  a  mithy  toss  down  the  mountain  into  the  bot- 
tomless pit  below.  And  there  may  the  foul-mouthed  old 
pace  lay  until  the  time  comes  for  her  to  be  baten  into  a 
ploughshare  for  the  farmer  here.  Afther  that  I  jist 
stooped  down  and  broke  me  a  bit  of  the  shamrock  ye 
see  here,  and  hild  it  out  to  the  ould  chief  as  a  token  that, 
for  one,  Konsel  O'Donnegan  bore  no  ill  till  him.  And  the 
text  that  Dacon  Stone  has  jist  been  expounding  from  his 
own  muzzle  and  the  muzzle  of  the  gun  of  him  struck  Kon- 
sel O'Donnegan  as  quite  unlike  a  certhin  other  sermon 
and  from  another  mountain.  And  it  seems  to  Ronsel  that 
the  text  furnished,  blood  for  blood,  is  only  declaratory  of 
what  sort  of  an  act  would  natherally  follow  one  which 
was  the  like  of  it,  as  the  dacon  has  jist  proved  with  the 
gun  of  him,  and  is  not  a  command  to  direct  a  good  Chris- 
tian. Sure  an  if  'twas  carried  out  as  he  explains  it  wouldn't 
ivery  mother's  son  of  us  lose  the  life  of  him,  and  that 
soon  ?  And  whin  the  turn  of  the  last  of  us  came  wouldn't 
he  have  to  be  his  own  witness,  judge  and  jury,  hangman 
and  prisoner,  as  well  as  all  the  audience  to  teach  the  ex- 
ample to  ?  And  Captain  Grovenor  would  think  another 
man  crazy  when  he  saw  him  string  himself  up  betwane  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  and  dancing  upon  nothing  to  the 
tune  of  mercy,  whilst  the  brazes  of  heaven  played  a  most 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  261 

ilegant  death  march  to  the  swate  harmony  of  the  law  of 
love  and  Dacon  Stone." 

"And  as  for  me,"  said  the  farmer,  "when  Chocorua 
spoke  of  their  lands  upon  which  we  had  trespassed,  and 
out  of  which  we  had  cheated  his  people,  and  which  we 
were  now  ploughing  and  cultivating  for  our  own  benefit, 
I  knew  it  was  all  true,  every  mite  of  it ;  so  I  just  un- 
hitched my  team  and  left  my  plough  in  the  furrow ;  and 
there  it  shall  rust  and  rot  before  I  turn  another  inch  of 
soil  unless  it  is  bought  and  paid  for." 

"  The  farmer  has  spoken  my  mind  exactly,"  said  the 
bushcutter  ;  u  and,  as  the  stub  scythe  prepares  the  ground 
for  the  plough,  every  other  plough  shall  rot  with  the 
farmer's  before  my  scythe  clears  the  way  for  it,  until  the 
whole  field  is  clear  and  smooth,  and  every  thing  fixed 
as  it  should  be.  So  I  have  hung  the  old  concern  up  there 
.n  the  tree  ;  and  it  now  hangs  just  to  suit  me." 

"And  I,"  cried  the  sailor,  "  found  I  couldn't  navigate 
my  craft  amid  the  breakers  of  his  overwhelming  argu- 
ment without  being  thrown  on  my  beam  ends  by  the  gale 
of  his  eloquence.  So  I  furled  my  sails  and  threw  out  my 
best  bower  ;  and  here  I  am,  determined  never  to  cruise 
in  these  latitudes  again  ;  for  I  am  out  of  soundings,  my 
chart  in  gone,  and  I  have  lost  my  bearings  altogether." 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 


Attach:  by  the  Wolves  upon  the  English  in  the  Lodge.  —  Invoca- 
tion op  the  Enchanted  Wolp.  —  He  disperses  the  genuine  Species. 
—  Return  of  the  English,  and  their  Determination  and  Appoint- 
ment op  a  Meeting  to  raise  the  Enchanted  Wolf  themselves. 


By  this  time  Captain  Grovenor  and  his  coadjutors  Stone 
and  Pike  were  very  anxious  to  leave  this  exceedingly 
high  mountain  ;  for  they  found  they  could  no  more  intim- 
idate their  comrades  for  not  shooting  a  man  whom  they 
could  easily  have  taken  alive  than  they  could  have  tempted 
them  to  fall  down  and  worship  their  bloody  idol  code,  even 
if,  like  their  great  progenitor  of  old,  they  had  offered  them 
all  before  them,  and  of  which  they  were  not  the  lawful 
owners  nor  the  rightful  possessors.  So  the  captain  gave 
the  command  to  countermarch,  and  sadly,  though  not 
slowly,  they  made  their  way  back  to  the  lodge  of  the  Pe- 
quawketts.  As  night  had  now  set  in,  it  was  almost  im- 
possible to  keep  the  path  by  which  they  had  ascended,  and 
it  was  late  ere  they  reached  the  wigwam.  While  they 
were  making  all  possible  haste  on  their  descent,  they  were 
suddenly  startled  by  the  loud  "  who  "  of  what  seemed  to 
be  an  owl ;  but  as  they  thought  they  detected  in  its  dis- 
mal hoot  something  akin  to  the  tones  of  a  human  voice, 
and  fearful  it  was  the  signal  of  their  ambushed  foes,  they 
suddenly  left  the  path  and  made  for  the  bushes.    They 

(262) 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  263 

had  gone  but  a  few  rods  when  they  were  more  startled 
than  ever  by  the  ringing  laugh  of  Elsie  and  Rozella. 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Captain  Grovenor,  as  he  sprang 
back  into  the  path,  "you  must  have  had  some  practice 
if  you  can  imitate  an  owl  as  well  as  that." 

"  We  have  seen  some,"  replied  Elsie,  "  and  have  taken  a 
few  lessons." 

"  Yes,"  added  Pike,  who  had  run  the  farthest  into  the 
bushes  and  was  the  last  to  regain  the  path  ;  "  a  smart 
business,  I  should  think,  for  young  ladies  to  be  imitating 
owls." 

"  Some  smart,"  responded  a  voice  directly  behind  them  ; 
and,  turning,  there  lay  Smart  in  his  old  and  favorite 
position. 

"  How  far  is  it  to  the  wigwam  ?  "  inquired  the  deacon. 

"  Only  a  few  rods,"  answered  Rozella.  "  We  waited  for 
your  return  until  we  became  so  impatient  that  we  started 
off  to  meet  you." 

"  And  you  would  have  been  more  impatient,"  said  Pike, 
"  before  you  had  readied  the  top  of  the  mountain  where 
we  have  been,  and  where  we  killed  that  old  dog  of  a  chief, 
Chocorua." 

"  Good  !  "  cried  Smart. 

"  How  glad  I  am,"  said  Elsie,  "  to  hear  that  he  is  no 
more !  " 

"  I  am  sorry ! "  exclaimed  Rozella  ;  "  for  Chocorua  was 
a  great  chief  and  a  superior  man.  Could  you  not  have 
taken  him  alive  ?  Perhaps  he  would  have  become  peace- 
able and  friendly  again  ;  or,  if  not,  he  might  have  been 
retained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  then  sent  to  some 
section  of  the  country  where  he  could  pass  the  rest  of  his 
life  in  quiet  and  tranquillity." 

?  Yes,"  said  Captain  Grovenor,  with  a  sneer,  "  there  is 
plenty  of  sympathy  for  the  slain  savage  now,  but  none  for 
my  poor  wife  and  children,  whom  he  so  inhumanly  de- 


264  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

stroyod,  and  whose  half-consumed  bodies  are  lying  still 
unburied  amid  the  remains  of  my  once  pleasant  dwelling." 

Rozella  felt  her  dignity  a  little  infringed  upon  by  this 
severe  remark,  and  replied,  tartly, — 

"  Captain  Grovenor,  here  are  twenty  living  witnesses  in 
this  hitherto  unexplored  wilderness,  whose  every  breath 
proves  your  asseveration  alike  uncalled  for  and  unfounded. 
For  what  have  we  taken  this  perilous  journey  to  these 
mountains  and  into  the  very  heart  of  the  wilderness? 
Would  persons  like  these  of  whom  our  little  band  is  com- 
posed" be  likely  to  take  a  long  journey  in  the  winter  sea- 
son, sleeping  in  the  open  air  and  subsisting  upon  food 
such  as  you  would  scarcely  offer  your  dog,  merely  for  the 
pleasure  or  novelty  of  the  undertaking  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  impugn  the  motives  of  any  one  of  the  gallant 
little  band  now  before  me,"  replied  the  captain.  "  And  I 
can  say  more  than  that.  I  am  under  a  thousand  obliga- 
tions to  them  for  the  promptness  with  which  they  rallied 
to  avenge  the  murder  of  my  wife  and  children.  Still 
there  was  a  double  motive  in  their  minds  ;  for  they  wished, 
not  only  to  rid  the  land  of  this  savage  murderer,  but  to 
recapture  your  dear  friend  Elsie  and  the  other  members 
of  the  family.  This  last  object  may  have  prompted  you 
more  than  the  destruction  of  Chocorua ;  for,  if  not,  why 
do  you  regret  his  death  ?  We  had  him  in  our  power  ;  and 
why  not  slay  him?  Now  the  settlers  can  rest  safe  and 
secure  from  his  tomahawk  or  his  torch.  We  have  served 
him  no  worse  than  he  served  our  friends  and  would  do 
again  were  he  alive." 

"Again,"  replied  Rozella,  "I  must  inform  you,  Captain 
Grovenor,  that  you  labor  under  a  mistake.  In  the  first 
place,  there  was  no  twofold  motive  in  the  rallying  of  the 
company.  Had  not  the  company  already  assembled,  with 
their  knapsacks  on  and  guns  in  hand,  ready  for  the  start, 
when  the  runner  returned,  while  I  was  pleading  with  my 


LEGENDS  OF  ■  LACONIA..  205 

father  and  yourself  that  I  might  accompany  the  expedi- 
tion? And  then  it  was,  and  not  till  then,  that  I  men- 
tioned the  exposure  and  suffering  of  Elsie  as  an  addition- 
al inducement  why  permission  should  be  granted.  Cho- 
corua  was  in  your  power,  as  you  have  acknowledged ; 
and,  if  so,  why  should  you  kill  him  ?  While  he  was  out 
of  your  reach  and  your  own  life  was  in  danger  there  was 
some  reason,  as  the  taking  up  arms  in  self-defence  of  the 
Quakers  at  Cocheco  testifies,  for  his  destruction  ;  but,  that 
danger  removed,  the  killing  him  is  downright  murder. 
And  as  to  the  assertion  that  he  would  have  served  us  and 
our  friends,  had  they  been  in  his  power,  as  we  have  served 
him,  the  fact  that  Elsie,  her  father,  and  sisters  were  in  his 
power  two  days,  unharmed,  is  sufficient  proof  to  the  con- 
trary, thus  far,  whatever  their  final  end  might  have  been." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  lodge,  and  the  whole 
company  gathered  around  to  hear  the  discussion.  As  she 
closed,  some  demonstrations,  both  of  concurrence  and  non- 
concurrence  in  her  views,  were  manifested.  Keference 
was  then  made  to  the  last  speech  of  Chocorua,  and  all 
acknowledged  him  to  have  been  a  man  having  an  exten- 
sive knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  difficulties  which  had 
arisen  between  his  people  and  the  English,  and  that  his 
eloquence  had  placed  the  subject  of  the  red  man's  wrongs 
and  injuries  in  a  light  in  which  they  had  never  before 
viewed  it. 

The  deacon,  seeing  the  turn  the  affair  seemed  taking, 
and  witnessing  the  complete  discomfiture  of  the  captain, 
and  by  the  adroit  use  of  his  own  arguments,  now  rushed 
gallantly  to  the  rescue,  and  poured  in  a  few  more  rounds 
in  the  shape  of  sundry  texts,  which  he  supposed  would 
settle  the  whole  matter. 

"  I  would  invite  the  attention  of  the  young  woman,"  said 
the  deacon,  "  to  the  account  of  the  vengeance  of  Gideon 
on  the  men  of  Succoth,  and  to  Jephthah7s  slaughter  of  the 
23 


266  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

Ephraimites  and  the  sacrifice  of  his  own  daughter,  as  well 
as  to  numerous  other  cases  mentioned  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment. And  the  New  Testament  declares  that  the  magis- 
trate beareth  not  the  sword  in  vain." 

"  And  is  it  not  written,"  replied  Rozella,  "  that  mercy- 
is  better  than  sacrifice,  and  that  we  should  love  and  for- 
give our  enemies,  and  pray  for  them  that  curse  us  and 
despitefully  use  us  ?  " 

"  I  did  forgive  him,"  replied  the  deacon,  "  and  prayed 
for  him,  too,  before  I  shot  him.  But  the  redskinned  hea- 
then would  never  have  repented  ;  so  I  thought  I  might  just 
as  well  send  him  over  his  long  journey  now  as  wait  longer." 

"  In  the  first  place,"  retorted  Rozella,  "  it  shows  what 
faith  you  have  in  the  efficacy  of  your  own  prayers  to  go 
through  the  mockery  of  praying  for  one  who,  you  say, 
you  knew  would  never  repent.  And  would  you  not  con- 
sider it  an  insult  were  I  to  ask  you  to  forgive  an  enemy 
and  then  kill  him  for  the  very  offence  for  which  I  prayed 
he  might  be  forgiven  ?  " 

"«He  prayed  for  him,"  interrupted  Elsie,  "  with  the  gun 
of  his  mouth,  and  preyed  upon  him  with  the  mouth  of  his 
gun.  Besides,"  continued  Elsie,  "  it  does  not  look  much 
like  heathenism  to  hear  a  man  talk  as  Ronsel  says  he  did 
about  the  little  church,  Father  Ralle,  and  the  cross." 

"  He  was  cunning,"  said  the  deacon,  with  a  wise  look  ; 
"desput  cunning." 

"  And  a  man  of  powerful  intellect,"  pursued  Rozella, 
"  as  his  speech  sufficiently  proves  ;  for  it  seems  none  of 
you  could  answer  it." 

"  Well,"  said  the  deacon,  "  was  it  not  manly  in  us  to 
meet  him  on  his  own  ground  and  conquer  and  slay  him  ?  " 

"  It  may  be,  according  to  your  ideas  of  manliness,"  re- 
plied Rozella,  "  manly  to  take  revenge  ;  but  it  is  godlike 
to  forgive." 

Pete  Hardy  here  announced  supper  ;  and  the  captain 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  267 

and  the  deacon  were  greatly  relieved  to  hear  it.  All  sat 
down  upon  the  ground  in  the  old  Indian  wigwam,  and  the 
captain  then  gave  a  more  full  and  precise  account  of  the 
scene  attending  the  death  of  Chocorua  than  that  portion 
of  the  company  that  had  remained  at  the  lodge  had  yet 
heard.  He  then  called  upon  Squire  Langdell  for  an 
account  of  the  doings  at  the  lodge  during  their  absence. 
The  squire  informed  him  that  when  they  entered  the 
lodge,  after  the  retreat  of  the  savages,  they  found  four 
squaws  and  one  pappoose.  That  the  enchanted  wolf  of 
the  forest,  or  the  wild  spirit  of  the  mountains,  as  the 
Indians  called  him,  had  appeared  in  the  midst  of  the  fight 
mounted  upon  Chocorua's  horse,  and,  entering  the  lodge 
with  a  long  knife  in  his  paw,  cut  the  bands  with  which  the 
captives  were  confined,  and  so  frightened  the  squaws  that 
they  ran  screaming  and  shouting  from  the  encampment, 
declaring  that  they  would  go  down  the  lake  to  the  Ossi- 
pees,  and  all  disappeared.  That  the  wolf  again  mounted 
the  horse  ;  and  when  the  Indians  came  back  to  slaughter 
the  captives  before  their  final  departure,  he  drove  them 
back  knife  in  hand.  It  was  therefore  evident  that,  had 
not  the  wolf  come  to  the  rescue,  the  expedition  would  have 
been  fruitless  and  all  their  efforts  for  the  release  of  the 
Tufton  family  unavailing.  When  the  Indians  disappeared 
the  wolf  vanished  also,  but  no  one  knew  whither.  They 
had  then  dug  graves  and  buried  the  two  white  men  who 
had  fallen  ;  but  the  bodies  of  the  Indians  were  still  un- 
buried,  as  they  presumed  their  companions  would  return 
and  bury  them.  No  one  had  taken  any  scalps  save  Smart, 
who  came  in  last  from  the  swamp  with  three,  declaring 
that  he  thought  he  must  be  some  smart  to  drop  so  many 
redskins  with  his  own  gun.  These  three,  with  those  they 
had  not  scalped  and  including  the  chief,  would  make  ten 
savages  who  had  fallen  in  one  day  —  which  he  thought 
was  a  pretty  fair  day's  work. 


268  LEGENDS   OP   LACON1A. 

"  Only  live  left  out  of  the  fifteen,"  said  the  captain ; 
"  that  will  do  for  one  day,  sure  enough." 

The  time  to  turn  in  had  now  arrived,  and  all  agreed 
that  Smart  should  have  a  chance  to  sleep  in  his  turn  ;  and 
as  there  was  no  fear  that  the  Indians  would  return,  and, 
moreover,  as  Chocorua  and  his  avenging  Stillshot  were 
botli  stilled  forever,  even  Pike  consented  to  stand  sentinel 
for  a  part  of  the  night. 

While  the  preparations  for  that  duty  wTere  in  progress 
Elsie  related  the  incidents  of  their  capture  as  follows  : 
The  Indians  came  upon  them  in  the  dead  of  night,  and, 
breaking  down  the  door,  rushed  in,  and,  hardly  allowing 
them  time  to  dress,  hurried  them  away  through  the  cold 
and  furious  storm.  They  marched  on  through  the  forest 
until  they  came  to  the  encampment  before  mentioned, 
when  they  took  their  first  meal  for  the  day.  It  consisted 
of  the  wild  meat,  portions  of  which  were  found  by  the 
English  on  their  arrival  at  this  place,  and  several  loaves 
of  bread  stolen  from  their  house. 

From  this  place  they  were  compelled  to  break  the  path 
for  Chocorua  and  his  followers  through  the  deep  snow ; 
and  when  they  arrived  at  the  lodge  they  had  a  few  pieces 
of  meat  thrown  at  them  as  though  they  had  been  dogs, 
and  were  then  tied  with  the  barks  as  they  had  been  found. 
What  their  fate  would  have  been  ultimately,  had  they  not 
been  rescued,  they  were  unable  to  say  ;  but  in  all  proba- 
bility they  would  have  been  taken  to  Canada,  as  hundreds 
of  others  had  been,  and  sold  to  the  French.  But  the  joy 
which  they  all  felt  when  they  heard  the  voice  of  Rozella 
—  that  sweet  angel  of  mercy  to  the  poor  and  of  hope  to 
the  captive  —  was  utterly  indescribable. 

The  sentries  were  now  posted  ;  and  the  first  watch 
passed  quietly,  there  being  no  fear  of  danger  either  from 
the  Indians  or  from  the  mysterious  wolf.  The  enchanted 
wolf  had  always  borne  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  legends 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  269 

and  traditions  of  the  Indians,  who  supposed  the  mountains 
to  be  inhabited  by  spirits,  and  that  these  appeared  in  time 
of  war,  and,  assuming  the  form  of  whatever  animal  best 
suited  their  convenience,  espoused  whichever  cause  was  in 
the  right.  As  the  English  were  firm  believers  in  witches 
and  satanic  manifestations,  they  did  not  altogether  dis- 
credit this  Indian  superstition  ;  and,  although  no  one  could 
give  any  satisfactory  reason  for  his  faith  concerning  him, 
yet,  as  he  had  fought  on  their  side,  they  thought  it  best 
not  to  be  too  inquisitive,  and  so  let  the  matter  rest  as 
they  founcTit. 

The  sentinels  for  the  second  watch  consisted  of  Hardy, 
Pike,  and  a  man  from  Merry  Meeting  named  Rogers. 
They  were  highly  elated  with  their  day's  work ;  and  as 
they  supposed  their  blazing  camp  fires  would  deter  the 
approach  of  all  enemies,  they  swaggered  about  with  so 
admirable  an  air  of  courage  as  to  almost  impose  upon 
even  themselves.  But  soon  the  bona  fide  wolves  began  to 
howl  on  the  mountains,  but  so  far  off  that  they  did  not 
fear  their  nearer  approach.  But  the  wolves  had  scented 
the  blood  of  the  fallen  and  yet  unburied  Indians,  and, 
made  bold  and  excited  by  the  aroma  thus  wafted  upon  the 
evening  breeze,  ventured  a  still  nearer  approach.  The 
sentries,  unwilling  to  disturb  the  sleepers,  endeavored  to 
frighten  them  away  by  making  loud  outcries,  but  to  no 
purpose ;  for  soon  in  the  opposite  direction  they  beheld 
another  large  pack  of  the  same  ferocious  animals  rushing 
in  a  dense  mass  from  the  adjacent  swamp.  And  now  to 
the  fierce  and  discordant  treble  of  the  wolves  was  added 
the  growling  sub-bass  of  the  black  bear,  accompanied  by 
the  wild  "who  "  of  the  owl,  until  the  woods  and  mountains 
seemed  vocal  with  the  awful  concert  which  woke  their 
sleeping  echoes  ;  and  the  very  rocks  seemed  to  vibrate  to 
the  supernatural  harmony  of  a  band  of  mountain  spirits. 
23* 


270  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

Pike  endeavored  to  keep  up  his  courage  by  bragging 
lustily,  reminding  his  companions  that  he  had  that  very 
day  put  a  bullet  through  the  head  of  an  Indian  chief,  and 
he  didn't  fear  the  wolves  —  not  he  ;  but  his  trembling 
voice  belied  his  big  words,  and  did  not  go  far  to  reassure 
his  discerning  comrades. 

But  the  beasts,  having  smelt  blood,  were  determined 
to  taste  it,  and  doubtless  thought  they  had  as  good  a  right 
to  do  so  as  their  brother  bipeds.  They  had  now  ap- 
proached so  near  that  the  sentries  could  plainly  hear  their 
gnashing  teeth,  and  see  their  glaring  eyes  and  hot  breath 
as  it  issued  in  vapory  volumes  from  their  gaping  jaws. 
Every  time  Pike  passed  his  beat  he  drew  somewhat  nearer 
to  the  lodge,  that  he  might  be  able  to  make  good  his  re- 
treat in  case  his  valuable  life  should  be  threatened  by  a 
sudden  rush  of  the  howling  foe.  Soon  the  fiery  eyeball 
of  a  monstrous  wolf  glared  full  in  his  view  over  the  body 
of  a  fallen  tree ;  and  Pike,  satisfied  with  the  proximity  the 
fierce  animal  had  already  attained,  did  not  wait  to  culti- 
vate a  nearer  acquaintance,  but  leaped  in  flying  bounds  for 
the  lodge,  into  which  he  disappeared  with  a  celerity  that 
would  have  astonished  an  antelope.  The  others  stood 
their  ground  until  they  had  discharged  their  guns  and 
brought  down  two  of  the  foremost  wolves  ;  but  as  this 
did  not  seem  to  delay  for  an  instant  the  charge  of  the  suc- 
ceeding platoon,  they  too  retreated  to  the  wigwam.  By 
this  time  Pike  had  aroused  the  sleeping  company,  who 
were  now  up  and  armed ;  and  as  they  looked  from  the 
chinks  and  crevices  of  the  lodge,  the  woods  seemed  all  on 
fire  with  the  flashing  eyes  of  a  thousand  wolves  gleaming 
in  the  darkness  on  every  side.  They  shot  a  few  of  them ; 
but  this  only  served  to  madden  the  rest  into  greater  fury, 
and  for  every  one  that  fell  another  was  ready  to  take  his 
place. 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  271 

"  Why,  in  the  name  of  mercy,"  cried  Pike,  "  don't  the 
enchanted  wolf  come  to  our  assistance  ?  If  he  has  forsa- 
ken us  we  shall  all  be  destroyed  to  a  man." 

"  Where  is  Some  Smart  ?  "  was  now  the  general  inquiry. 

"  There,"  replied  one,  pointing  to  an  old  blanket  behind 
the  chimney.  They  ran  to  the  place,  and,  awaking  him, 
begged  him  to  get  up  at  once  and  assist  them  in  destroy- 
ing the  wolves  or  they  must  all  be  devoured. 

"  I  am  too  sleepy,"  yawned  Some ;  "  and,  besides,  I 
never  meddle  with  such  small  fry." 

"  But  what  can  we  do  ?  "  said  they. 

"  Call  up  the  enchanted  wolf,"  replied  Some  ;  "  he  will 
clear  them  off  in  quick  time." 

"  How  shall  we  call  him  up  ?  "  was  now  the  query. 

"  I'll  tell  you,"  answered  Some,  "  if  you  will  let  me  sleep 
afterwards  without  disturbance. 

"  Well,"  he  continued,  as  soon  as  his  proposition  was 
agreed  to,  "you  must  all  march  around  the  lodge  three 
times  with  your  eyes  shut,  and  sing  as  follows :  — 

Enchanted  wolf,  or  spirit,  come ! 
And  show  thy  power,  mysterious  one ! 

and  he  will  appear."  And  down  he  threw  himself  behind 
the  chimney  as  before. 

By  this  time  the  wolves  were  scratching  and  snapping 
at  every  part  of  the  lodge,  and  one  or  two  were  upon  its 
top.  As  they  completed  their  third  round  they  heard,  to 
their  inexpressible  joy,  the  well-known  hideous  howl  of 
the  enchanted  wolf  proceeding  from  the  roof  of  the  lodge. 
So  fearful  and  unearthly  was  the  howl,  and  so  unlike  that 
of  all  the  others  was  its  ringing  cry,  that  the  infernal  din 
of  all  the  others,  was  hushed  at  once  as  by  the  voice  of 
their  commander-in-chief. 

Those  upon  the  roof  jumped  down  as  he  appeared  ;  and 
at  the  next  instant  the  company  inside  saw  him  leap  down 


272  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

into  the  raging  pack  below  him,  holding  in  his  paws  an 
enormous  firebrand,  one  end  of  which  was  blazing  and 
crackling  as  he  whirled  it  round  his  head.  As  he  struck 
the  ground  he  thrust  his  fiery  torch  full  into  the  mouth  of 
the  wolf  nearest  him,  whereupon  the  others,  blinded  and 
bewildered  by  the  blazing  brand,  and  frightened  by  the 
distressed  yells  of  their  agonized  companion,  who  had 
"  grabbed  the  subject,"  but  was  glad  to  drop  it  as  quickly, 
started  back,  and  the  next  moment  were  seen  running  at 
full  speed  for  the  mountain,  making  the  woods  ring  with 
their  infernal  cries,  while  close  in  their  rear  an  hot  pursuit 
followed  the  enchanted  wolf,  still  swinging  aloft  his  me- 
teor brand,  and  howling  so  terribly  that  the  woods  seemed 
filled  from  centre  to  circumference  with  the  hideous  out- 
cry. The  joy  and  rejoicing  within  the  lodge  at  so  speedy 
and  complete  a  discomfiture  of  their  dreaded  foes  by  their 
formidable  ally  were  unbounded,  and  formed  a  strong  con- 
trast to  the  frightful  uproar  without.  They  would  have 
roused  Smart  to  witness  the  scene  but  for  their  promise 
not  to  disturb  him  ;  and,  reflecting  that  he  must  be  quite 
exhausted  by  his  previous  watchings  and  needed  rest,  they 
suffered  him  to  sleep. 

By  this  time  Aurora  had  begun  to  throw  up  her  stream- 
ing rockets  as  a  signal  to  the  world  that  the  great  centre 
piece  was  about  to  be  fired ;  and  in  the  camp  the  word  was 
passed  around  that  daylight  was  at  hand,  and  the  whole 
party  issued  out  into  the  morning  air.  All  now  began  to 
discuss  the  mystery  of  the  enchanted  wolf ;  and  the  opin- 
ions given  concerning  him  were  as  various  as  the  givers. 

"  He  is,"  said  Rozella,  "  the  imbodiment  of  all  that  is 
pleasing  to  ourselves  and  of  all  that  is  terrible  to  our 
enemies.  He  has  been,  during  our  march  through  the 
wilderness,  a  pillar  of  fire  by  night  and  a  guiding  cloud 
by  day." 

"  He  is  terrible,"  exclaimed  the  deacon,  "  as  an  army." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  273 

"  He  turned  a  handsome  furrow,  any  how,"  said  the  farm- 
er, "  with  his  redhot  ploughshare,  through  those  howling 
devils." 

"He  mowed  them  down,"  said  the  bushcutter,  "  in  a 
way  that  made  me  think  of  my  old  stub  scythe." 

"  That's  a  fact,"  added  the  sailor  ;  "  he  run  'em  under 
in  as  gallant  a  style  as  ever  was  done  by  sea  or  by  land." 

"  And,"  cried  Elsie,  "  he  didn't  leave  so  much  as  a  buoy 
to  mark  the  spot." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  responded  Pike  ;  "  he  went  into  them  with 
his  pitch  pipe,  and  changed  the  key,  and  made  them  sing 
a  different  tune,  in  double  quick  time,  and  in  short,  partic- 
ular metre." 

"  You  mean,  rather,"  resumed  Elsie,  "  that  he  pitched 
into  their  pipes,  or  into  one  of  them  at  least,  and  played 
a  solo  on  the  squalltera  which  didn't  sound  much  like  the 
dulcina." 

"  Any  way,"  returned  Pike,  "  it  was  a  pretty  smart 
operation." 

"  It  was  some  smart,"  put  in  a  voice  from  under  the 
blanket ;  and  the  next  moment  Smart,  kicking  the  blanket 
across  the  tent,  sprang  up  and  asked  what  all  the  disturb- 
ance meant. 

"  Meant  1 "  replied  Pike  ;  "  if  you  had  seen  the  glowing 
fireballs  which  we  saw  you  would  have  thought  it  meant 
something.  There  were  more  than  a  thousand  of  them ; 
and  the  smallest  one  of  the  lot  had  a  mouth  that  would 
have  swallowed  you  at  one  gulp  before  you  had  got  within 
hailing  distance  of  it." 

"  No  doubt,"  rejoined  Smart,  "  I  should  have  edged  up 
close  to  the  wigwam  before  they  were  within  half  a  mile 
of  me,  and  then  cut  and  run  for  my  life  without  stopping 
to  discharge  my  piece  at  them." 

u  I  guess  you  would,  too,"  replied  Pike ;  "  for  you  were 
so  awfully  frightened  that  you  didn't  dare  to  put  your 


274  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

neck  out  from  under  your  blanket  till  the  danger  was 
over." 

"  And  I  never  would  have  taken  it  out,"  retorted  Smart, 
"  if  it  had  to  carry  such  a  cowardly  head  as  yours." 

Pike  was  about  to  reply,  when  Eozella  reminded  him 
that  it  was  Smart  who  gave  them  directions  how  to  bring 
the  enchanted  wolf,  but  for  whose  assistance  they  must  all 
have  been  destroyed. 

Further  conversation  was  now  suspended  by  Captain 
Grovenor's  giving  the  order  for  the  company  to  march  ; 
and  they  started  on  their  return.  They  had  thirty  miles 
of  hard  travelling  before  them,  and  they  wished,  if  possi- 
ble, to  reach  their  homes  before  they  slept ;  and,  for  the 
further  expediting  of  their  journey,  the  horse  of  the  old 
chief  was  ridden  by  two  ladies  in  turn,  which  arrange- 
ment aided  their  progress  materially.  Nothing  of  partic- 
ular interest  took  place  during  the  march,  but  they  be- 
guiled the  way  by  conversation,  jokes,  and  laughter,  in 
which  all  took  a  part ;  even  the  deacon's  starched  face 
occasionally  puckering  up  into  a  shape  which  it  was  hard 
to  say  most  resembled  laughing  or  crying.  Some  Smart 
took  his  old  place  at  the  side  of  Rozella,  who  soon  com- 
menced questioning  him  concerning  the  enchanted  wolf. 
In  reply,  he  informed  her  that  he  had  spent  some  time 
with  the  Indians,  and  had  learned  of  them  how  to  raise 
the  spirit.  Any  twelve  persons  could  raise  him  generally, 
though  he  would  not  always  come  at  their  bidding.  When 
they  marched  round  the  room  in  the  manner  he  had  di- 
rected the  past  night  they  generally  saw  the  wolf.  He 
never  changed  his  form  in  the  sight  of  any  human  being  ; 
but,  after  he  appeared  in  the  form  of  a  wolf,  if  they 
had  a  small  box  for  him  to  sit  on,  and  then,  inverting  a 
barrel  over  him  sufficiently  high  not  to  touch  his  head, 
marched  three  times  around  the  room,  he  would  pass 
through  three  transformations.    But,  in  order  that  this 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  275 

result  should  follow,  it  was  necessary  that  all  those  pres- 
ent should  be  of  the  same  color  ;  though  of  what  particu- 
lar color  was  of  no  consequence. 

"  Well,"  returned  Rozella,  "  we  will  try  it  some  time, 
and  see  what  other  forms  he  will  assume." 

When  the  company  halted  for  dinner  Kozella  made 
known  what  she  had  learned  respecting  the  mysterious 
wolf ;  and  all  the  company  shared  in  her  curiosity  to  see 
the  different  shapes  he  would  assume  and  through  what 
transformations  he  would  pass.  Accordingly,  an  evening 
was  appointed  about  a  fortnight  from  that  time,  for  the 
reason  that  some  of  the  company  were  obliged  to  be  ab- 
sent on  business  until  then  ;  and  the  little  band  again  took 
up  their  line  of  march. 

As  they  neared  their  several  homes  they  parted  compa- 
ny, some  taking  one  road  and  some  another,  while  others 
struck  off  through  the  clearings  or  through  the  woods. 
But  no  one  could  tell  when  or  where  Smart  had  left  the 
company  ;  for,  although  they  knew  he  was  not  there,  that 
was  the  extent  of  their  knowledge.  When  they  reached 
the  lane  that  led  over  the  causeway  to  Mr.  Tufton's  they 
exchanged  parting  salutations  with  the  family,  and  re- 
ceiving the  assurance  from  them,  in  answer  to  their  re- 
quest, that  they  would  not  fail  to  be  present  at  the  raising 
of  the  wolf,  passed  on. 

When  Squire  Langdell,  Rozella,  and  Pike  entered  their 
home  there  was  a  general  shout  of  congratulation  on  both 
sides.  -Little  Owega  was  rejoiced  beyond  measure  to  see 
her  long-absent  mistress,  and  had  a  great  deal  to  say 
about  her  visit,  during  Rozella's  absence,  to  a  young  friend 
in  the  other  part  of  the  settlement.  They  then  inquired 
how  the  party  had  succeeded  ;  and  both  Mrs.  Langdell 
and  Owega  were  surprised  as  well  as  rejoiced  to  hear  of 
its  success.  Rozella  then  gave  a  brief  rehearsal  of  the 
principal  incidents  of  the  journey,  dwelling  particularly 


276  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

on  the  phenomenon  of  the  enchanted  wolf,  and  ended  by 
informing  them  that  she  had  learned  how  to  raise  him 
from  a  fine  jroung  man,  named  Smart,  who  had  accompa- 
nied her  all  the  way,  and  to  whom  she  had  become  partic- 
ularly attached. 

"  Miss  Rozella,"  asked  Owega,  "  what  will  Captain  Wal- 
dron  say  to  that  ?  " 

"  0,"  replied  Rozella,  laughing,  "he  is  but  a  lad,  and  too 
young  to  interfere  with  the  claims  of  Captain  Waldrou. 
He  is  just  about  a  match  for  you,  Owega." 

"  0,  how  glad  I  am  to  hear  that!  "  exclaimed  Owega,  in 
her  ringing  tones  of  laughter.  "  I  am  dying  to  see  him 
already.     Where  does  he  live  ?  " 

"  Somewhere  in  the  settlement/'  answered  Rozella, 
"  though  he  seemed  unwilling  to  tell  where  ;  so  I  did  not 
press  the  inquiry." 

"  But  why,"  said  Mrs.  Langdell,  "  did  you  not  invite 
him  to  call  on  us?" 

"  I  did  so,  of  course,"  replied  Rozella,  •■  and  he  is  coming 
a  week  from  Monday  night  to  assist  in  raising  the  wolf." 

"  0,"  shouted  Owega,  "  doubly  good !  for  I  shall  not 
only  see  Smart,  but  see  the  wolf  raised  too." 

"  Not  quite  so  fast,"  returned  Rozella.  "  He  said  the 
wolf  would  not  appear  if  there  were  persons  of  different 
color  present." 

At  this  announcement  Owega  lost  all  her  hilarity  in  a 
moment,  and  the  tears  stood  in  her  eyes. 

"  Nonsense !  "  cried  Rozella  ;  "  you  shall  see  Some 
Smart,  if  you  cannot  be  present  when  the  wolf  is  raised." 

"  But  what  if  he  should  not  be  present,"  said  Mrs.  Lang- 
dell, "  at  the  appointed  time." 

"  0,"  replied  Rozella,  "  we  can  raise  the  wolf  without 
him  ;  for  he  has  let  me  into  the  whole  secret." 

"Yes,"  cried  Owega,  again  pouting  ;  "but  in  that  case 
I  shall  not  see  the  wolf  raised,  nor  see  Some  Smart  either. 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  277 

Miss  Rozella  will  give  me  no  chance  either  way.  I  won't 
stay  here.  I'll  go  off  somewhere  before  the  time  comes, 
where  I  can  have  a  better  chance.  If  I'd  staid  with 
the  Ossipees  they  would  have  done  better  by  me  than 
that ;  for  long  before  this  they  would  have  given  me  some 
swift,  straight  arrow  for  my  bow." 

"  The  quiver  of  the  Ossipees,"  replied  Rozella,  "  does 
not  contain  many  swift,  straight  arrows  at  present.  It 
was  pretty  thoroughly  exhausted  by  old  Major  Waldron 
when  he  took  two  hundred  of  them  at  once,  and  sold  part 
of  them  and  hung  the  rest ;  and  those  whom  he  sold  were 
the  identical  Indians  who  on  their  return  crossed  out  their 
accounts  with  Major  Waldron  by  taking  his  life." 

"  I  hope,"  replied  Owega,  "  they  won't  serve  the  young 
captain  so." 

Rozella  shuddered  and  seemed  inclined  to  cease  from 
further  conversation,  but  finally  told  Owega  that  she 
might  stay  at  home  the  night  of  the  gathering,  remaining 
up  stairs  while  the  wolf  was  being  raised,  and  they  would 
call  her  down  the  moment  he  disappeared. 
24 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


Rejoicing  of  the  Settlers  at  the  Death  of  Chocorua.  —  Meeting 
and  Success  of  the  Inhabitants  in  raising  the  "Wolf.  —  Incidents 
of  the  Evening,  and  Song. 


In  the  interval  between  the  time  of  this  conversation 
and  the  evening  of  the  great  wolf  party,  as  the  gathering 
was  termed,  all  the  towns  from  Dover  to  Merry  Meeting 
Bay  were  filled,  not  only  with  rejoicings  over  the  death 
of  the  dreaded  and  hated  Chocorua,  but  with  wonder  and 
astonishment  at  the  part  taken  in  the  affray  by  the  myste- 
rious wolf.  All,  far  and  near,  were  extremely  anxious  to 
get  a  sight  at  the  strange  animal ;  and  Owega,  in  particu- 
lar, had  had  several  sharp  conflicts  with  Rozella,  and  went 
so  far  as  to  almost  resort  to  blows  because  she  would  not 
grant  her  permission  to  be  present  when  he  was  to  be 
raised.  Rozella  told  her  that  those  who  were  coming 
wished  to  see  the  wolf,  and  not  Owega  ;  and  there  would 
be  no  right  nor  propriety  in  allowing  one  person  to  break 
up,  by  their  presence,  the  great  object  of  the  meeting  ;  and 
she  need  say  nothing  further  about  it. 

On  the  appointed  evening  Owega  showed  so  much  tem- 
per and  exhibited  so  many  of  the  worse  traits  of  the  In- 
dian character  that  Rozella  came  to  the  determination  to 
send  her  to  one  of  their  neighbors  to  pass  the  evening 
with  an  old  lady  who  was  too  infirm  to  attend  the  party. 
When  the  company  began  to  assemble  Owega  threw  a 

(278) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  ,  279 

shawl  over  her  head,  and  went  out  sulking  and  muttering 
to  herself.  The  only  words  Rozella  could  catch  were  to 
the  effect  that  Rozella  might  have  Some  Smart  if  she 
wanted  him  ;  and  if  two  beaux  were  not  enough  for  her, 
she  hoped  she  would  throw  out  her  net  and  catch  more  ; 
and,  if  her  net  got  so  full  as  to  break  and  let  them  out,  she 
could  set  another  wolf  trap.  The  company  still  continued 
to  pour  in,  and  in  so  much  greater  numbers  than  had  been 
anticipated  that  they  filled  not  only  the  old  kitchen,  which 
was  the  favorite  room  in  those  days,  but  also  the  parlor, 
which  was  only  opened  on  unusual  occasions.  They  occu- 
pied the  time  in  discourse  concerning  ghosts,  goblins,  and 
witchcraft  in  all  its  types  and  phases,  from  the  time  of 
Moses  to  the  manifestations  at  Salem.  Still  Smart  failed 
to  make  his  appearance ;  and  the  party,  who  had  waited 
two  hours  for  him,  began  to  grow  not  only  impatient,  but 
irritable,  and  none  more  so  than  Rozella.  She  had  sup- 
posed, from  his  seeming  attachment  to  her  while  on  their 
late  expedition,  that  he  would  not  fail  to  be  among  the 
first  to  be  present ;  and  she  knew  not  what  to  think  of  his 
absence.  At  last  it  was  proposed  that  they  should  attempt 
to  raise  the  wolf  without  him ;  "  For,"  said  they,  "  we 
raised  him  before  without  his  assistance ;  and  why  not 
now?"      ■ 

The  words  necessary  to  be  repeated  had  been  learned 
by  all  who  had  not  previously  heard  them ;  and,  after 
having  arranged  the  box  and  barrel  according  to  the 
directions  given  by  Rozella,  the  whole  company  stood  up 
and  marched  round  the  room,  repeating,  — 

Enchanted  wolf  or  spirit,  come ! 

And  prove  thy  power,  mysterious  one ! 

After  they  iiad  passed  three  times  around  the  room  all 
stopped  and  looked  at  each  other  inquiringly,  as  much  as 
to  say,  "  What  shall  we  do  next?" 


280  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

At  length  the  deacon  broke  the  silence  by  remarking 
that  he  had  been  struck  with  an  impression  that  they 
hadn't  faith  enough. 

"  Hush  ! "  whispered  Elsie ;  "  you  will  soon  be  struck 
with  a  deeper  impression  yet." 

At  this  moment  a  loud  scratch,  and  a  deep,  jarring 
growl,  were  heard  at  the  door,  whereat  all  present 
turned  pale,  and  Pike  tottered  to  a  seat  and  called  for 
water. 

"  Will  some  one  open  the  door  ?  "  asked  Rozella. 

"  We  dare  not,"  was  the  general  response. 

"  Deacon,"  said  Rozella,  "  will  you  be  good  enough  to 
open  the  door  ?  " 

As  she  spoke  a  still  louder  and  fiercer  growl  was  heard ; 
and  the  deacon  was  instantly  taken  with  a  weakness  in 
the  knees  and  dropped  into  a  chair  by  the  side  of  Pike, 
and,  with  a  convulsive  grab  at  the  tumbler  of  water  which 
was  still  in  Pike's  shaking  hand,  exclaimed,  "  0  mercy ! 
we've  raised  something  ;  but  whether  it  is  the  wolf  or  the 
devil  who  knows  ?  " 

Rozella  now  ventured  to  open  the  door  a  little  way, 
when  a  huge  paw  was  thrust  through  the  opening  and  the 
door  forced  from  her  grasp  with  such  violence  as  nearly 
to  throw  her  down,  and  in  bounded  an  enormous  wolf. 
He  advanced  towards  the  box  and  barrel,  and  set  up  a 
howl  that  brought  even  Pike  and  the  deacon  to  their  feet, 
while  the  crockery  and  the  tin  pans  rattled  as  if  shaken 
by  the  discharge  of  a  cannon.  The  entire  company  were 
now  in  an  awful  panic  ;  for  they  dared  not  attack  their 
mysterious  guest,  and  yet  knew  no  method  of  ridding 
themselves  of  his  unwelcome  presence. 

11  How,"  cried  the  deacon,  addressing  Rozella,  "  can  we 
lay  this  evil  spirit,  as  he  seems  to  be  to-night?  —  for  in- 
stead of  raising  the  friendly  wolf  which  assisted  us  against 
the  Indians,  we  have  raised  the  evil  one  himself." 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  281 

"  Alas ! "  replied  Rozella,  "  I  cannot  tell.  It  never  oc- 
curred to  me  to  ask  Smart  how  we  could  do  that." 

"And  faith,"  said  Ronsel  O'Donnegan,  "I'm  thinking 
yeVe  got  a  dale  more  than  ye  bargained  for.  And  it's  the 
Ould  Nick  himself,  since  ye  have  raised  the  divil  of  him, 
that  won't  be  going  back  to  where  the  dacon  sent  the 
ould  chief  widout  taking  some  bloody  son  of  his  mother 
along  wid  himsel." 

"  I'm  off,  then  ! "  cried  Pike. 

"  And  I,  too  !  "  added  the  deacon. 

And  both  made  for  the  door  :  but  the  wolf  headed 
them  off  by  stationing  himself  against  it  and  exhibiting 
two  immense  rows  of  long  bristling  fangs,  the  sight  of 
which  caused  Pike  to  fall  helpless  to  the  floor ;  and  the 
deacon  followed  him,  with  divers  mutterings  which  sound- 
ed marvellously  like  what  the  Swan  of  Avon  terms  "  swear- 
ing a  prayer." 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Pete  Hardy,  "  he  seems  to  be  laying 
us  rather  than  we  him.  Now,  suppose  we  go  through  the 
transforming  operations  and  see  what  will  turn  up." 

"  Nothing  else  can  be  done,"  replied  Rozella  ;  "and,  for 
one,  I  should  like  to  see  what  form  he  will  next  assume." 

"  He'll  come  out  a  bear,  I'm  afraid,"  groaned  Pike. 

The  wolf  now  advanced  to  the  box  and  seated  himself 
upon  it,  sitting  up  as  straight  as  a  young  Indian.  The 
barrel  was  now  turned  over  him  ;  and  three  or  four  of  the 
largest  men  immediately  jumped  upon  and  held  down  the 
barrel,  declaring  that  the  wolf  was  now  trapped  and 
should  never  be  released.  Rozella  alone  objected,  saying 
that  it  was  impossible  to  entrap  or  confine  spirits,  and, 
besides,  they  might  be  injured  in  any  such  attempt. 

All  at  once  the  rich  notes  of  the  golden  robin  were 

heard  under  the  barrel,  gushing  full  and  free  from  a  throat 

as  golden  as  his  name  ;  and  all  present  seemed  entranced 

by  the  thrilling  melody,  while  the  men  upon  the  barrel 

24* 


282  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

leaped  off  and  stood  spellbound  in  silent  amazement.  The 
song  then  changed  ;  and  they  heard  .the  sweet  and  plain- 
tive strain  of  the  whippoorwill,  which  anon  was  followed 
by  the  quaint  phrase  of  the  cuckoo  ;  and  then  came  a 
scratch  for  the  barrel  to  be  removed.  As  they  raised  the 
barrel  such  a  frightful  screech  of  an  owl  rang  through  the 
room  as  to  elicit  from  the  ladies  present  an  imitation  of 
the  cry  nearly  as  thrilling  and  effective  as  the  original 
itself ;  while  upon  the  box,  instead  of  the  wolf,  sat  Some 
Smart  in  all  his  smartness. 

Eozella  was  the  first  to  throw  her  arms  around  his  neck ; 
and  her  laudable  example  was  not  lost  upon  the  other 
ladies,  whose  rosy  lips  spoke  in  a  tone  far  more  eloquent 
than  words  their  pleasure  and  delight.  But  Smart,  to  his 
infinite  credit  be  it  said,  protested  against  this  part  of  the 
proceedings  as  altogether  irregular  and  not  put  down  in 
the  programme,  besides  not  being  in  conformity  to  ghostly 
usage.  Rozella  retorted  that  he  was  no  longer  a  wolf  nor 
a  spirit,  but  was  referred  by  Smart  to  their  conversation 
as  they  returned  from  their  late  expedition,  who  reminded 
her  that,  according  to  its  tenor,  the  wolf  was  to  go  through 
three  several  transformations  ;  that  he  was  now  in  the 
middle  state,  which  he  must  soon  leave  for  another,  as  it 
was  impossible  to  continue  long  in  one  state  or  sphere. 

"Then,"  replied  Rozella,  "if  you  change  from  your 
present  state  you  are  not  the  friend  I  supposed  you 
to  be." 

"  It  matters  not,"  answered  he,  "  in  what  particular  state 
I  am  ;  for  in  each  and  all  I  am  alike  your  friend  and  ben- 
efactor." 

"  But  you  are  no  spirit,"  persisted  Rozella  ;  "  you  are 
plain  Some  Smart  and  nothing  else,  whether  you  are  in  a 
wolfskin  or  out  of  it.  For  a  spirit  hath  not  flesh  and 
blood,  nor  so  warm  a  cheek  and  lips  as  hath  a  certain 
Some  Smart  I  wot  of." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  283 

"  If  I  was  Smart  when  in  the  wolfskin,"  returned  he, 
"  where  is  that  skin  now  ?    Have  I  eaten  it  ? '' 

All  looked  for  the  wolfskin,  but  it  was  not  to  be  seen ; 
and  they  now  began  to  regard  the  matter  as  indeed  myste- 
rious and  unaccountable. 

"  Now,"  said  Smart,  as  he  looked  around  upon  them,  "  I 
perceive  that  you  begin  to  see  me  as  I  really  am,  and  re- 
gard me  in  my  true  character  of  the  wild  spirit  of  the 
mountains.  When  I  saw  the  party  gathering  to  this  house 
to  avenge  by  the  extermination  of  Chocorua  and  his  crew 
the  destruction  of  the  Grovenor  family,  I  could  remain  no 
longer  in  the  form  in  which  I  then  was,  but  took  upon  my- 
self the  human  form  in  which  you  now  see  me  that  I  might 
the  better  battle  for  the  right.  To  test  your  courage  and 
to  ascertain  what  I  could  accomplish  as  a  wolf,  I  took  that 
form.  And  it  was  the  same  spirit  now  before  you  that 
enchanted  your  encampment ;  and  it  was  this  mouth,  as 
you  can  easily  believe  after  what  you  have  heard  to-night, 
that  then  poured  forth  the  wild  notes  of  the  forest  birds 
as  well  as  the  dismal  cry  of  the  owl.  Knowing  the  nature 
and  habits  of  the  red  man,  I  knew  that  he  would  destroy 
his  captives  before  his  final  retreat  unless  he  was  driven 
away  by  force  or  by  terror.  I  chose  the  latter  ;  and  how 
well  I  succeeded,  mounted  upon  the  horse  of  Chocorua, 
you  know  full  well.  The  three  scalps  I  brought  in  I  took 
from  the  heads  of  the  Indians  already  fallen  by  other 
hands.  And  when  the  wolves  came  howling  about  the 
lodge,  I  knew  that  nothing  but  a  blazing  firebrand  would 
disperse  them  ;  so,  while  you  were  marching  around  the 
lodge,  I  passed  into  the  form  of  a  wolf,  and,  armed  with 
the  brand  I  had  previously  placed  in  the  fire,  climbed  up 
behind  the  chimney  and  out  through  an  opening  upon  the 
roof,  and  succeeded  in  putting  them  to  flight  beyond  my 
most  sanguine  expectations.  While  you  were  rejoicing  at 
my  success  I  passed  back  by  the  same  opening  into  the 


284  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

lodge,  and,  resuming  my  present  form,  was  again  under 
my  blanket  when  the  brave  Pike  called  my  name.  Still,  I 
am  a  spirit,  and  with  spirits  do  I  principally  associate. 
But  I  must  now  leave  my  present  form  and  take  another  ; 
and  to  accomplish  that  change,  you  know  the  part  you 
are  to  perform  and  I  know  mine.  So  now  to  the 
work." 

He  then  seated  himself  again  upon  the  box  ;  and  the 
company,  now  more  frightened  than  ever,  placed  the  bar- 
rel again  over  him,  and  again  marched  around  it,  repeat- 
ing the  former  magic  words.  As  they  completed  the  third 
round,  a  sweet  voice,  not  unlike  that  of  a  female,  but  of  a 
more  wonderful  power  and  volume  than  they  ever  heard 
before,  sung  the  following  lines,  giving  the  closing  words 
of  each  stanza  save  the  last  so  soft  that  it  seemed  the  echo 
of  some  responsive  spirit :  — 


Three  times  in  circles  round  me  move, 
Like  elves  and  fays  round  haunts  they  love  ; 
The  charm  and  spell  ye  now  will  prove  — 

Tah  atta  Koosamau  Owega. 


II. 


It  matters  not  what  sphere  I  take, 
Where  mountains  frown  or  smiles  the  lake, 
Or  woods  my  mystic  echoes  wake  — 

Tah  atta  Koosamau  Owega. 


III. 

Though  warbling  notes  my  fame  enhance, 
Or  frightened  foe  fly  from  my  lance, 
Or  in  the  magic  circle's  dance  — 

Tali  a' ta  Koosamau  Owega. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  285 


IV. 


All  change  is  nought  but  in  the  brain  ; 
Enchanted  wolf,  or  Smart,  my  name, 
Or  waltzing  fairy,  I'm  the  same  — 

Tah  atta  Koosamau  Owega. 


While  the  last  verse  was  being  sung  they  heard  the  sig- 
nal scratch ;  and,  with  trembling  hands,  pale  faces,  and 
white  lips,  and  more  excited  than  ever,  they  slowly  raised 
the  barrel.  The  closing  words,  which  she  sung  just  as  the 
barrel  was  lifted,  were  given  in  a  much  louder  and  em- 
phatic tone  than  in  the  preceding  stanzas  ;  and  the  next 
moment  Owega  herself  stood  revealed  to  their  astonished 
eyes  —  the  same  brighteyed  Indian  girl,  with  the  identi- 
cal leaf  between  her  lips  that  was  given  her  by  Rozella 
at  Norridgewock  three  years  previous,  and  laughing  as 
though  she  would  burst  into  still  another  sphere  with  joy. 
While  all  were  yet  mute  with  roundeyed  wonder  she  flew 
into  Rozella's  embrace,  and,  throwing  her  arms  around 
her  neck,  laughingly  exclaimed,  — 

"Now,  Miss  Rozella,  Tah  atta  Koosamau  Owega," — 
i.  e.,  it  is  indeed  Owega,  —  "  and  I  shall  pay  back  with 
interest  the  kisses  you  gave  Some  Smart." 

Some  of  the  company  were  still  dubious  as  to  her  iden- 
tity ;  but  when  she  turned  over  the  box  upon  which  she 
had  stood,  and  revealed  the  wolfskin,  and  the  well-known 
clothes  of  Some  Smart,  they  were  completely  satisfied  that 
she  was  the  bona  fide  Owega,  though  they  were  as  com- 
pletely overwhelmed  with  admiration  at  the  admirable 
skill  with  which  she  had  carried  out  her  deeply-designed 
plot. 


CHAPTER   XXX 


oweoa  taxes  the  appellation  of  queen  op  the  mountains.  —  the 
Supper.  —  Surprisal  by  the  Indians. 


After  the  general  rejoicings  at  the  clearing  up  of  this 
strange  mystery  had  partially  subsided,  and  the  long  and 
far-stretched  minds  of  the  company  had  settled  down  into 
composure,  supper  was  announced ;  and  although  it  was 
quite  late,  they  took  no  note  of  time,  not  even  from  its 
loss.  Owega  was  by  general  consent  placed  at  the  head 
of  the  table,  by  the  side  of  Squire  Langdell  ;  and  all  vied 
with  each  other  in  showing  her  attention  and  doing  her 
honor.  It  was  now  proposed  that,  as  Rozella  had  borne 
the  title  of  Queen  of  the  Forest,  the  appellation  of  Owega 
should  be  Queen  of  the  Mountains — which  proposal  was 
received  and  adopted  by  acclamation. 

"  Now,"  said  the  squire,  after  supper  was  over,  "  I  have 
been  to  Boston  the  past  autumn,  where  I  heard  much  and 
saw  a  little  of  the  witchcraft  for  the  practice  of  which 
they  have  hung  so  many  people  in  Salem  and  Lynn  ;  and 
I  then  and  there  openly  boasted  that  nothing  of  that  sort 
could  ever  deceive  me.  But  in  this  case  I  confess  I  was 
staggered  by  what  I  saw,  and  was  inclined  to  think  it 
of  supernatural  origin,  especially  when  I  considered  that 
it  was  no  more  improbable  that  there  should  be  enchanted 
wolves  and  wild  spirits  among  the  solitudes  of  the  moun- 
tains than  that  there  should  be  bewitched  women  and 

(286) 


m 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  287 

satanic  manifestations  in  the  thickly-settled  towns.  And 
the  mysterious  appearances  and  strange  noises  which  I 
have  heard  to-night  caused  me  more  pain  and  were  tenfold 
harder  to  endure  than  the  torturing  pangs  of  the  rheuma- 
tism, which  seemed  tearing  all  my  joints  asunder.  But  the 
clearing  up  of  this  well-designed  and  skilfully-executed 
plot  has  now  opened  my  eyes  to  the  folly  of  resorting  to 
supernatural  agencies  to  account  for  any  phenomena  until 
those  of  the  natural  sphere  are  exhausted  ;  therefore  from 
this  time  I  believe  no  more  in  witchcraft  or  witches." 

"  I,  too,"  said  the  farmer,  "  have  learned  a  lesson  ;  for 
the  Mountain  Queen  has  put  her  hand  to  the  plough, 
turned  a  handsome  furrow,  sowed  the  seed,  and  gathered 
the  rich  harvest,  all  without  once  looking  back." 

The  others  now  followed  ;  and  the  sailor,  the  bushcut- 
ter,  the  Irishman,  Grovenor,  Pike,  Hardy,  and  even  the 
deacon,  all  acknowledged  themselves  outdone,  overdone, 
and  done  brown,  each  after  his  own  characteristic  mode 
of  expression. 

But  how  soon  may  our  brightest  prospects  be  trans- 
formed to  "  darkness  and  clouds  of  awful  shade  "  !  How 
often,  when  we  reach  for  the  substance,  do  we  grasp  but 
the  shadow !  or  attempt  to  pluck  the  rose,  when  the  winds 
of  chance  sway  the  bush  from  our  grasp,  and  the  thorn 
which  leaves  a  sting  behind  is  our  only  portion !  It  was 
even  so  upon  the  night  of  the  social  gathering  we  have 
attempted  to  describe.  They  had  met  to  rejoice,  and  were 
still  rejoicing,  over  the  destruction  of  their  lately-dreaded 
foe,  the  last  chief  of  the  Pequawketts ;  but  in  the  midst 
of  their  hilarity  thick  gloom  came  down  on  them  like 
night,  and  a  yet  more  terrible  storm  soon  burst  upon  their 
heads.  Just  as  their  mirth  and  merriment  were  at  their 
height,  Rozella,  hearing  a  slight  noise  at  the  opposite  side 
of  the  room,  looked  in  that  direction,  and,  to  her  utter 
horror,  the  first  object  that  met  her  eye,  as  it  fell  upon  the 


288  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

window,  was  the  foxskin  cap  of  Jack  Taurus ;  while  di- 
rectly beneath  it,  and  peering  through  the  lower  pane, 
were  the  frightfully  painted  faces  of  three  Indians.  She 
had  barely  sufficient  strength  to  point  to  the  window,  and 
then  fell  to  the  floor  faint  and  powerless.  The  company 
present,  not  dreaming  of  the  slightest  danger  now  that 
Chocorua  was  slain,  and  unheeding  his  dying  declaration 
that  Taurus  had  gone  to  Canada  to  bring  the  Nepissins 
and  Abenaquis  down  upon  them,  were  wholly  unarmed 
and  unprepared  for  resistance. 

The  old  chief  had  spoken  but  the  truth  ;  and  as  Taurus 
and  his  band  had  neared  the  settlement,  they  were  met  by 
the  little  remnant  of  the  Pequawketts,  who  related  the  sad 
story  of  the  death  of  their  chief  and  the  total  overthrow 
and  dispersion  of  all  his  followers,  not  omitting  a  highly- 
colored  account  of  the  important  part  taken  in  the  scene 
by  the  enchanted  wolf  or  the  wild  spirit  of  the  mountains. 
But  when,  early  in  the  evening,  they  arrived  at  the  house 
of  Squire  Langdell,  and,  posting  themselves  silently  around 
it,  witnessed  all  the  proceedings  and  heard  all  the  conver- 
sation relating  to  the  mystery  of  the  enchanted  wolf,  and 
became  aware  of  the  fact  that  this  dreaded  monster  was 
no  more  to  be  feared  than  any  other  mortal,  they  regained 
their  courage,  and  with  terrific  yells  and  whoops  rushed 
in  upon  their  defenceless  victims. 

A  few  of  our  friends  succeeded  in  making  their  escape  ; 
but  others  were  taken  captives  and  hurried  off  in  great 
haste. 

In  good  time  we  shall  follow  their  fates  and  fortunes ; 
but  for  the  present  we  must  turn  our  attention  towards 
our  old  friend  Captain  Waldron  and  his  brave  band  of 
Mountain  Rangers,  whom  we  left  on  the  point  of  starting 
on  their  expedition  to  do  battle  in  the  cause  of  the  king 
and  crown  upon  the  far-off  Isle  of  Cape  Breton. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 


Return  of  the  Mountain  Rangers  prom  Cape  Breton.  —  Their  Suc- 
cess there.  —  Their  warm  Reception  at  the  House  of  Squibb 
Langdell. — Waldron's  Sickness. 


After  the  gallant  Mountain  Rangers  left  the  house  of 
Squire  Langdell,  on  the  evening  of  the  presentation  of  the 
banner  by  the  fair  Rozella,  they  marched  rapidly  forward 
to  the  shrill  music  of  the  fife,  and  the  quick  rat  tat  tat  of 
the  drum,  which  played  in  concert  with  the  dancing  beams 
of  the  harvest  moon  and  cheered  their  unflagging  foot- 
steps on  their  winding  way. 

Captain  Waldron,  as  he  looked  back  to  see  that  his  new 
company,  of  which  he  seemed  quite  proud,  kept  in  proper 
military  order,  was  observed  by  some  of  his  band  to  suffer 
his  gaze  to  rest  for  a  long  time  upon  the  dwelling  of 
Squire  Langdell,  where  the  sylphlike  form  of  her  in  whom 
were  centred  his  fondest  hopes  and  aspirations  was  still 
to  be  seen,  as  she  gazed  with  fond  though  weeping  eyes 
after  the  receding  band. 

As  he  reached  the  last  hill  from  which  her  home,  en- 
deared by  a  thousand  and  one  ties,  though  that  one  was 
stronger  than  a  thousand  others,  was  visible,  he  gave  one 
parting  look  at  the  spot,  and  then,  dashing  the  rising  tear 
from  his  eye,  wheeled  to  the  right  about  and  gave  the 
order  for  a  promiscuous  and  irregular  march.  The  sections 
broke  up,  and  the  soldiers,  having  a  long  march  before 
25  (289) 


290  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

them,  hurried  forward  at  their  utmost  speed.  Cheerful 
conversation  then  commenced,  the  eloquent  speech  of  the 
Forest  Queen  being  first  extolled  ;  and  then  came  the  sub- 
ject of  the  glory  and  honor  each  one  hoped  to  reap  ere 
his  return  to  the  land  he  was  proud  to  call  his  own  —  the 
loved  and  lovely  Laconia. 

Still  onward  they  swept,  and  toiled,  and  fought ;  but  as 
the  narrator's  task  is  mostly  confined  within  the  borders 
of  Laconia  we  must  hail  them  on  their  return,  and  report 
their  movements  subsequently  to  the  battles  of  Cape 
Breton. 

The  Mountain  Rangers,  then,  are  on  their  return  to  their 
long-loved  and  dearly-cherished  Laconia.  Captain  Wal- 
dron,  who  will  subsequently  relate  their  most  heroic  skir- 
mishes and  stormings  at  Louisburg,  is  at  their  head,  with 
his  honors  of  victory  thick  upon  him.  Grizzly  Gridley 
and  Wiley  Walcott,  the  former  lieutenant  and  the  latter 
ensign  of  the  Mountain  Rangers,  have  both  gleaned  a 
bountiful  harvest  of  renown  and  heroic  glory. 

Ensign  Wiley  Walcott  had,  ever  since  their  departure 
from  Laconia,  avowed  a  decided  passion  for  Miss  Elsie  Tuf- 
ton,  and  determined,  if  he  ever  returned,  to  proffer  her  his 
hand,  as  she  had  already  captivated  his  heart. 

He  had  held  many  confidential  sessions  with  Captain 
Waldron  upon  the  subject  so  near  and  dear  to  his  breast ; 
and  the  captain  had  volunteered  his  services  to  the  ensign 
and  pledged  him  what  influence  he  might  possess  in  that 
quarter. 

There  was  nothing  very  remarkable  in  the  ensign's  per- 
sonal appearance  except  his  eyes,  which,  as  he  approached 
the  observer,  seemed  of  a  bright  silver  gray.  But,  as  he 
came  nearer,  the  gray  part  proved  to  be  separated  into  as 
many  rings,  or  belts,  though  not  quite  so  large  to  be  sure, 
as  surround  the  planet  Saturn.  Each  belt  was  dissimi- 
lar both  in  width  and  color.     The  pupil  was  dark  blue, 


LEGENDS   OF    LACONIA.  291 

the  first  rim  of  the  iris  of  a  very  light  blue,  the  next  white, 
and  the  last  gray.  He  had  the  power,  also,  of  giving  his 
eyelids  a  sort  of  comical  twist,  which,  at  every  repetition, 
would  set  the  whole  company  into  a  roar  of  laughter. 

Lieutenant  Grizzly  Gridley  was  the  soldier  who  was  his 
constant  companion,  as  he  had  formerly  been  his  fast  friend 
and  associate. 

Gridley  was  a  man  of  large  and  muscular  proportions, 
of  not  very  genteel  gait,  and  was,  moreover,  somewhat 
round  shouldered,  while  his  long  arms  reached  nearly  to 
his  knees  ;  and,  although  he  was  a  young  man,  his  hair 
and  beard  were  full  of  white  spots,  which  gave  it  a  grizzly 
appearance. 

Grizzly  and  Walcott  both  were  from  Maine.  They  came 
to  Laconia  together,  and  had  taken  adjacent  lots  of  lands 
and  built  a  log  house  upon  the  line  which  they  occupied  in 
common. 

Ever  after  Gridley  came  to  Laconia  he  had  harbored 
queer  notions  upon  transmigration  or  preexistence,  which 
troubled  him  exceedingly  ;  for  there  were  certain  localities 
he  thought  he  must  at  some  time  antecedent  to  that  have 
seen,  though  it  might  have  been  through  some  other  eyes 
than  those  he  now  wore.  But  how  he  imbibed  those  sin- 
gular ideas  may  yet  appear. 

After  the  capture  of  Louisburg  the  gallant  Mountain 
Rangers  had  remained  in  the  city,  together  with  a  part  of 
the  other  New  England  regiments,  to  hold  the  place  in 
subjection.  But  as  soon  as  a  force  sufficient  to  hold  Louis- 
burg under  military  rule  had  arrived,  the  Mountain  Ran- 
gers, who  had  now  been  absent  from  their  homes  for  a  long 
time,  obtained  a  furlough  to  visit  their  homes,  with  the 
understanding  that,  if  they  were  again  wanted  at  Cape 
Breton  or  at  Quebec,  they  should  march  with  the  New 
York  troops  by  the  way  of  Crown  Point  and  Montreal. 
And  most  joyfully  swelled  the  bosoms  of  the  brave  band 


292  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

generally,  and  of  Captain  Waldron  in  particular,  who 
smiled  in  his  dreams  both  of  the  night  and  of  the  day  at 
the  inspiring  thought  of  soon  clasping  the  sweet  young 
Forest  Queen  in  his  arms  —  the  prize  above  all  others  for 
which  he  had  suffered,  fought,  and  bled.  And  Ensign 
Walcott,  too,  whom  it  was  agreed  on  all  hands  had  earned 
an  enviable  reputation  among  the  heroes  of  Laconia,  and 
whose  claim  and  title  to  the  hand  of  the  fair  Elsie  no  one 
would  dispute,  was  in  the  highest  state  of  exhilaration  and 
delight. 

But  while  the  soldiers  are  passing  on  board  the  good 
ship  Northern  Light  we  will  relate  the  sad  fate  of  one  of 
the  principal  movers  in  the  Cape  Breton  expedition,  and 
success  of  the  worthy  chaplain.  m 

In  a  dark,  obscure  street,  in  the  metropolis  of  London, 
lies  a  wronged  and  disappointed  man,  dying  in  poverty 
and  neglect.  It  is  poor  Vaughan,  the  originator  and 
master  spirit  of  the  late  enterprise.  As  he  originated  the 
expedition,  he  came  here  in  the  vain  expectation  of  re- 
ceiving some  little  honor  or  title  from  the  royal  sovereign 
for  whom  he  had  so  successfully  fought.  Warren  and 
Pepperell,  who  had  really  done  nothing  but  to  follow  and 
carry  out  the  plans  of  Vaughan,  had  each  received  the  title 
of  baronet ;  and  Pepperell  received  the  commission  of  colo- 
nel in  the  British  army  ;  while  Warren  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  admiral.  Vaughan  had  urged  his  claims  to 
similar  distinctions,  but  had  been  put  off  from  time  to  time 
for  a  year,  until  his  exhausted  frame  had  given  way  and 
King  Death  was  about  to  claim  his  allegiance  to  him  as 
his  lawful  sovereign.  "Bubble,  bubble ;  alas!  all  things 
earthly  are  but  bubbles,"  sighed  he,  as  his  failing  breath 
issued  in  frothy  bubbles  from  his  mouth.  "  Well,  'tis  near- 
ly over  ;  and  to  what  does  it  all  amount  ?  Ah,"  continued 
he,  as  he  shifted  his  hot  and  fevered  head  upon  his  lonely 
pillow,  "  for  what  came  I  here  ?    For  a  title ;   for  the 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  293 

empty  honor  of  having  conferred  upon  me  the  sounding 
name  of  baronet  —  a  term  to  which  bubble  is  a  fit  syno- 
nynie.  And  yet,  so  anxious  was  I  to  receive  it  that  my 
health  and  strength  sank  under  the  excitement  and  left 
me  before  my  ambition.  The  king  has  wronged  me  in 
bestowing  the  distinctions  to  which  I  was  justly  entitled 
upon  Warren  and  Pepperell,  who  merely  looked  on  while 
I  planned  and  executed  the  work.  Besides,  Waldron,  Wal- 
cott,  and  Gridley  were  a  thousand  times  more  worthy  of 
the  honor  of  knighthood  than  either  of  them.  But  so  wags 
the  world  ;  and  so,  I  fear  me,  will  it  ever  continue.  Yes, 
life  is  but  a  bubble  ;  and  yet  I  cannot  but  regret,  now 
that  mine  is  about  to  burst  and  vanish  in  thin  air,  that  I 
have  broken  many  a  one  as  dear  as  my  own.  Well,  it 
must  needs  have  been  so  ;  but,  had  I  not  been  a  soldier,  I 
might  have  been  a  better  Christian.  I  have  but  reaped 
as  I  have  sown.  But  is  there  not  mercy  yet  reserved  for 
a  dying  man  with  Him  who  is  the  depth  of  mercy?  And 
yet,  how  can  he  who  has  shown  no  mercy  to  others  expect 
mercy  for  himself?  And,  though  I  am  no  coward,  the 
shrieks  and  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying  are  still  ring- 
ing in  my  ears,  and  will  not  be  silenced.  0,  mercy,  mercy  ; 
the  last  bubble  is  about  to  break  ;  but  Heaven  is  not  a  bub- 
ble, and  I  pray  that  it  may  be  merciful  to  my  poor  soul." 
As  the  last  words  fell  faint  and  brokenly  from  his  pale 
lips  poor  Vaughan  clasped  his  hands  together  upon  his 
breast,  closed  his  eyes,  and  the  next  moment  the  bubble 
of  life  had  indeed  burst,  and  the  spirit  of  the  unfortunate 
man  passed  into  the  presence  of  his  merciful  Father. 
There  let  us  with  confidence  leave  him  ;  for,  although  his 
profession  as  a  warrior  did  not  permit  him  the  exercise 
of  many  Christian  virtues,  he  was,  according  to  the  stan- 
dard of  the  age  in  which  he  lived,  a  brave,  true,  and  good 
man  ;  an  honor  to  his  king,  who  disregarded  his  merits  ; 
to  the  ministry,  who  suppressed  his  real  claims ;  and  to 
25* 


294  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

his  country,  the  loved  Laconia,  in  whose  service  he  had  so 
long  and  so  valiantly  fought. 

While  the  officers  and  soldiers  were  keeping  the  city  of 
Louisburg  in  subjection  by  the  force  of  arms,  their  worthy 
chaplain,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moody,  was  keeping  a  portion  of 
the  French  soldiers  to  whom  he  had  gained  access  in  sub- 
jection by  the  force  of  moral  suasion.  In  a  little  Roman 
Catholic  church,  from  which  the  idolatrous  images  and 
pictures  had  been  removed,  he  labored  diligently  to  bring 
his  auditors  to  a  true  and  understanding  knowledge  of 
the  truth  and  power  of  spiritual  worship,  and  its  infinite 
superiority  over  that  of  images,  or  pictures,  or  any  mere 
device  of  man's  hands.  He  taught  them  that  salvation 
is  from  God  alone,  through  his  Son,  and  not  from  the 
priest,  and  that  the  life  and  heart  must  be  purified  until 
the  fine  silver  in  the  crucible  of  the  heart  is  melted  as 
by  the  refiner's  fire  and  reflected  in  the  life  the  true  image 
of  the  great  Purifier.  He  instructed  them,  furthermore, 
that  the  heart,  and  not  the  pulpit  of  the  priest,  is  the 
altar  where  the  picture  of  the  Savior  should  be  erected 
and  from  which  his  image  should  be  reflected.  But  al- 
though a  few  were  convinced,  or  at  least  silenced,  by  the 
force  of  his  arguments  and  the  soundness  of  his  logic,  he 
found  the  words  of  Rozella  at  the  presentation  of  the  ban- 
ner to  be  too  true  ;  viz.,  that  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the 
people  of  the  island  were  darker  and  more  impenetrable 
than  the  dense  fogs  that  enveloped  it.  He  had  endeavored 
to  convince  them  that  telling  their  beads  for  prayer  was  a 
mockery  unless  the  heart  of  the  worshipper  is  fixed  on 
God  alone  ;  and,  if  the  latter  was  the  case,  the  counting  of 
the  beads  was  wholly  needless  ;  that  no  arm  of  flesh  could 
save  the  sinner,  nor  could  any  man  pardon  Or  absolve  the 
sins  of  the  heart ;  that  works  of  supererogation  were  im- 
possible, inasmuch  as  when  we  had  done  all  in  our  power 
we  had  not  exceeded  our  duty,  and  that  all  forms  were 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  295 

needless  if  the  heart  was  regenerated  and  right  ;  that 
true  and  acceptable  worship  of  the  great  Ruler  of  heaven 
and  earth  consisted  in  carding  out  his  designs  and  pur- 
poses, in  alleviating  the  woes  and  assisting  the  distresses 
of  others,  and  in  visiting  the  widow  and  orphan  in  their 
affliction,  and  keeping  themselves  unspotted  from  the 
world.  These  and  many  other  similar  views  did  he  urge 
upon  them  ;  but,  finding  the  influence  and  power  of  the 
priest  so  much  stronger  than  his  own,  he  relinquished  the 
field  and  subsequently  left  Louisburg  with  the  Mountain 
Rangers,  to  whose  cause  and  interest  he  seemed  entirely 
devoted.  * 

The  morning  after  the  granting  of  the  furlough,  at  early 
dawn,  the  company,  with  every  soldier  in  his  best  dress 
and  brightest  look,  paraded  upon  the  broad  square  of 
Louisburg,  and  marched  down  to  the  wharf,  and  went  on 
board  their  gallant  ship,  the  Northern  Light,  whose  deck 
seemed  to  expand  exultingly  at  their  approach.  They 
now  weighed  anchor,  and  spread  their  broad  sails  to  the 
wind,  and  stood  out  for  the  open  sea. 

France,  upon  the  recent  of  the  news  of  the  capture  oi 
Louisburg,  was  thrown  into  the  wildest  excitement  and 
consternation.  She  instantly  formed  a  plan  for  the  recov- 
ery of  that  city  and  the  complete  destruction  of  the  Eng- 
lish colonies  ;  and  it  was  by  reason  of  this  scheme,  as  we 
shall  soon  see,  that  those  on  board  the  Northern  Light 
and  two  or  three  other  vessels  of  war,  on  board  of  which 
were  other  New  England  troops,  when  they  arrived  at  the 
Straits  of  Canso,  where  they  had  been  delayed  by  the  ice 
in  their  outward  passage,  now  met  a  much  more  formida- 
ble obstacle.  This  was  a  large  French  fleet  and  army, 
which  had  just  reached  Canso,  under  command  of  that 
renowned  warrior,  the  Duke  d'Anville.  As  the  New 
England  ships  came  down  the  straits,  so  dark  and  dense 
was  the  fog  that  the  French  did  not  discern  the  English 


296  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

nor  the  English  the  French  until  they  had  run  so  nearly 
together  that  neither  could  have  turned  to  escape  had  they 
wished  so  to  do. 

"  Avast  there !  "  shouted  the  Duke  d'Anville,  and  "  Avast 
there !  "  sung  out  Captain  Waldron,  at  one  and  the  same 
time. 

When  the  fog  cleared  away,  there  lay  the  French  fleet 
strung  along  the  shore  in  the  proportion  of  ten  French 
ships  to  one  of  the  English. 

"  Heave  to  !  "  sternly  commanded  the  duke. 

"  Never,  until  we  are  forced  to  do  so ! "  returned  the  un- 
daunted Waldron.  B 

"  We  will  heave  you  a  cannon  ball,"  added  Walcott, 
"  if  that  will  answer  your  purpose." 

"  If  it  will  not,"  cried  Gridley,  "  then  we  will  come  our- 
selves and  present  you  our  swords'  points  first,  which  will 
be  a  striking  and  piercing  proof  of  our  disposition  to  gain 
your  friendship." 

Gridley  had  hardly  closed  his  remark  when  a  cannon 
boomed  from  the  duke's  vessel,  and  the  next  moment  the 
flying  splinters  which  flew  from*  the  mainmast  of  the 
Northern  Light  showed  that  the  Mounseers  were  ready 
for  the  fight.  A  brisk  fire  was  now  returned  by  the  Eng- 
lish, who  fired  twice  while  the  French  fired  once,  and  did 
little  execution  at  that.  Still  they  kept  up  a  feeble  fire, 
while  the  English  blazed  away  furiously  and  fast.  The 
Duke  d'Anville  soon  sent  a  flag  of  truce  on  deck,  and  the 
firing  ceased. 

"  They  are  cowards,"  said  Waldron  ;  and  so  said 
they  all. 

The  duke  now  came  on  deck,  and,  bowing  to  Waldron, 
said,  — 

"We  must  let  you  pass  ;  for  we  are  too  far  reduced  by 
a  terrible  pestilence  which  has  broken  out  among  our  men 
to  contend  further." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  297 

"  Ah,"  replied  Waldron,  "  but  we  will  not  let  you  pass 
until  you  strike  your  colors  and  yield  yourselves  prisoners 
of  war.  Lower  the  boats,"  continued  he  to  his  crew, 
"  and  board  and  seize  the  nearest  vessel." 

The  order  had  hardly  escaped  his  lips  when  the  boats 
struck  the  water,  and  Walcott,  Gridley,  and  a  dozen 
other  resolute  men  jumped  into  them  and  boarded  the 
nearest  vessel ;  but  the  stench  from  the  hold  was  so  dread- 
ful and  overpowering  that  it  was  with  difficulty  they  could 
avoid  fainting.  As  they  approached  the  hatchway,  a  part 
of  the  crew  were  engaged  in  raising  from  below  a  large 
hogshead  containing  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  and,  carrying 
it  to  the  vessel's  side,  emptied  its  ghastly  contents  into  the 
sea.  The  soldiers  hastened  back  to  their  ship  and  re- 
ported the  terrible  spectacle  they  had  witnessed  ;  and  the 
hostile  fleets  then  separated  without  further  demonstra- 
tions of  hostility,  each  glad  to  escape  from  the  other. 
This  pestilence  is  mentioned  by  the  historians  of  that 
day  as  being  the  most  fatal  scourge  on  record,  which 
swept  off  so  many  men  from  so  small  an  army.  Besides 
the  unknown  hundreds  thrown  overboard  at  sea,  eleven 
hundred  were  carried  on  shore  at  Halifax  and  there 
buried.  Disasters  of  storms  and  shipwrecks  followed 
close  upon  the  footsteps  of  pestilence  ;  the  officers  be- 
came divided  in  their  councils  ;  and  finally,  so  dejected 
were  their  spirits  and  so  faint  their  hopes,  their  com- 
mander-in-chief, the  Duke  d'Anville,  finished  at  once,  by 
poison,  his  sorrows  and  his  life.  This  was  an  addition- 
al weight  added  to  the  burden  of  the  already  well  nigh 
crushed  officer  who  was  second  in  command  ;  and  in  a  fit 
of  delirium  he  threw  himself  upon  his  own  sword,  and  thus 
terminated  his  existence.  By  this  melancholy  succession 
of  diseases  and  disasters  their  hopes  and  prospects^  were 
blighted  and  destroyed  ;  and  the  few  remaining  soldiers 
of  the  late  powerful  French  fleet  who  survived,  or  rather 
lingered  than  lived,  returned  broken  hearted  to  their  homes. 


298  LEGENDS   OF   LACOXIA. 

The  New  Hampshire  forces  now  put  their  vessels  again 
before  the  wind,  and  soon  were  bounding  over  the  waves 
towards  their  wished-for  haven. 

"  Now,"  said  Waldron,  "  my  mind  is  tranquil  and  com- 
posed. We  shall  encounter  no  more  foes  upon  these 
waters  ;  and  our  old  enemies,  the  Indians,  were  destroyed 
or  driven  from  the  borders  of  Laconia  before  we  left. 
Would  that  we  were  there  to-night ;  but  with  this  favoring 
gale  we  shall  soon,  I  doubt  not,  be  with  those  we  love,  in 
whose  dear  companionship  we  shall  find  unalloyed  happi- 
ness." So  saying,  he  started  up  and  paced  the  deck  im- 
patiently, exclaiming,  "  I  can  hardly  contain  myself  at 
our  slow  progress." 

"And  I,"  said  Wiley  Walcott,  "am  as  impatient  as 
yourself;  and  if  I  only  had  wings  I  would  never  fold  them 
until  I  alighted  at  the  house  of  Robert  Tufton  and  grasped 
the  hand  of  the  fair  Elsie." 

"Ah,"  cried  Waldron,  "she  is,  indeed,  a  fair  maiden 
and  a  worthy.  She  is  a  great  favorite  with  all  who  know 
her  ;  but " 

"  But  what  ?  "  interrupted  Walcott.  "  Though  I  suppose 
you  intended  to  add  that  she  is  not  quite  equal  to  Ro- 
zella." 

"  Well,"  said  Waldron,  "  in  my  opinion  both  are  nearly 
faultless ;  though,  of  course,  they  are  not  precisely  alike  ; 
and  the  fair  Elsie  does  not  quite  fill  Rozella's  shoes  in  my 
eye,  you  know." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  Walcott,  "  you  have  a  right  to 
your  opinion,  and  I  to  mine ;  but  her  shoes  are  doubtless 
large  enough  for  her  little  feet,  and  I  presume  answer 
every  purpose.  But  be  that  as  it  may,  if  I  can  only  be  so 
fortunate  as  to  obtain  her,  shoes  or  no  shoes,  I  shall  be 
perfectly  satisfied*" 

"That's  the  right  kind  of  talk,"  cried  Grizzly  Gridley, 
coming  forward ;  "  but  I  hope  these  brave  officers  will 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  299 

not  get  into  a  quarrel  about  their  respective  favorites.  If 
they  should,  I  shall  interfere  and  bear  off  the  highest  prize 
myself." 

"No  danger  of  our  quarrelling,"  answered  Waldron, 
laughing,  "  for  we  are  both  satisfied  already  ;  besides,  we 
have  quarrelled  enough  for  them  and  for  the  land  they 
dwell  in  without  quarrelling  about  them." 

"  But  supposing,"  said  Gridley,  "  while  we  have  been 
absent,  that  brace  of  ruffians,  Taurus  and  Janus,  or  some 
equally  worthy  gentlemen,  have  stolen  a  march  upon  you 
and  taken  the  castle,  queens  and  all." 

"0,  horror!"  said  Waldron,  shuddering  and  wiping 
the  beaded  perspiration  from  his  pale  brow.  "  What  put 
that  into  your  head,  lieutenant  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  tell,  sir,"  replied  Gridley  ;  "  but  why  are  you 
so  agitatled  ?  " 

"  A  dreadful  dream  that  I  had  the  night  before  Yaughan 
sailed  for  England,"  returned  Waldron,  "  which  your  re- 
mark brought  fresh  to  my  mind." 

"  If  that  is  all,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  bowing  low 
in  acknowledgment  of  the  compliment  paid  him  by  his 
superior  officer,  "  you  may  compose  yourself  at  once  ;  for  I 
assure  you  there  is  nothing  in  dreams ;  for  I  have  had 
thousands  of  them,  and  never  knew  any  evil  come  of  them 
yet." 

"  Well,"  returned  Waldron,  "  we  will  drop  these  melan- 
choly forebodings  ;  but  still  it  seems  to  me  that  our  vessel 
makes  but  slow  headway." 

"It  must  be  the  effect  of  your  imagination,  then,"  replied 
Gridley ;  "  for  we  are  now  going  nearly  ten  knots  an 
hour,  and  the  wind  is  still  fresh  and  strong." 

"  If  the  captain  and  myself,"  said  Walco  tt,  "  do  any 
more  fighting  for  the  sweet  flowers  of  our  selection,  we 
shall  do  it  bravely,  I  warrant  you." 

"  You  are  not  sure  of  the  fair  Elsie  yet,"  retorted  Grid- 


300  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

ley  ;  "  for  it  may  be  that,  when  you  have  fought  bravely  to 
obtain  her,  she  will  fight  as  bravely  to  escape  you." 

Walcott  made  no  answer,  but  turned  quickly  about  and 
gazed  with  moistened  eyes  over  the  broad  expanse  of  the 
ocean  ;  and  Captain  Waldron,  knowing  well  the  feelings 
that  were  tugging  at  his  heart,  said  cheerily,  "  Never  mind, 
my  brave  friend  ;  here  you  will  command  what  little  in- 
fluence I  may  possess  over  her ;  and,  besides,  Elsie  Tufton 
is  a  girl  of  too  good  sense  to  refuse  a  man  of  Ensign 
Walcott's  standing,  with  the  addition  of  the  rank  and  dis- 
tinction his  deeds  of  heroism  have  won  him  in  this  expe- 
dition. Especially  should  his  suit  prosper  at  a  time  when, 
above  all  others,  Laconia  is  most  in  need  of  additional 
inhabitants ;  for,  among  the  fairer  and  better  portion-of 
our  community  particularly,  the  injunction  given  to  our 
first  parents  to  multiply  and  replenish  the  earth  is  re- 
garded as  having  binding  force  ;  and,  should  it  become 
generally  known  that  Elsie  had  refused  so  eligible  an  offer, 
she  would  meet  with  but  little  sympathy  or  assistance  from 
the  good  mothers  of  Laconia  in  any  matrimonial  schemes 
she  might  afterwards  devise." 

When,  a  few  days  succeeding  this  conversation,  they 
neared  the  Harbor  of  Portsmouth,  and  both  officers  and 
men  burned  with  impatience  for  the  moment  when  they 
should  leave  the  unstable  water  and  again  feel  the  solid 
earth  beneath  their  feet,  as  the  officers  were  pacing  the 
deck,  straining  their  anxious  eyes  to  the  distant  horizon  to 
discover  the  first  indication  of  land,  Walcott  approached 
the  chaplain,  and,  with  his  old  comical  twist  at  the  corners 
of  his  belted  eyes,  asked  his  reverence  why  he  had  never 
taken  a  partner  for  life,  reminding  him  of  his  duty  on 
that  point,  and  adding,  that,  in  case  a  wife  and  children 
were  awaiting  his  coming,  he  would  hardly  be  able  to 
appear  as  calm  and  composed  as  he  now  seemed. 

"  True,"  replied   the  chaplain  ;  "  and   I  may  marry  at 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  301 

some  future  time,  perhaps,  should  Fortune  smile  upon  me. 
But  for  the  present  I  live  for  others,  and  not  for  myself ; 
and  while  I  have  not  the  anxiety  to  reach  home  which 
others  manifest,  that  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
and  greeting  the  dear  ones  there,  neither  am  I  distressed 
with  fearful  forebodings  that  in  my  absence  it  has  fared 
ill  with  them.  Besides,"  continued  he,  with  a  slight  twinkle 
of  the  eye,  as  if  in  imitation  of  his  interrogator,  "  if  I  had 
no  other  assurance  of  a  welcome  reception  from  some  fair 
one  than  that  arising  from  a  high  opinion  of  my  own  im- 
portance, I  might  chance  to  get  such  a  rebuff  as  to  make 
me  wish  myself  back  again  to  fight  the  fogs  and  French 
of  Cape  Breton." 

Walcott,  although  he  took  the  clerical  joke,  staggered 
under  it,  and,  amid  the  laughter  of  the  little  crowd  who 
had  gathered  round,  sat  down,  apparently  quite  fatigued. 
Captain  Waldron,  who  had  heard  the  conversation,  now 
fame  to  the  aid  of  his  friend  Walcott,  and  observed,  — 

*  He  has  my  influence,  such  as  it  is,  in  his  favor,  and  I 
have  promised  to  do  all  in  my  power  to  advance  his  suit." 

11  Very  kind  in  you,"  replied  the  chaplain ;  "  and  the 
worthy  ensign  should  have  mine  if  I  possessed  any  ;  but, 
as  it  is,  I  can  only  give  him  my  best  wishes  that  he  may 
be  successful  in  his  laudable  undertaking.  Still,  captain, 
it  is  not  impossible  that  you  will  have  enough  to  do  in 
cultivating  your  own  rosebush  without  finding  time  to 
weed  or  work  in  your  neighbor's  garden." 

It  was  now  the  captain's  turn  to  look  blank  and  discon- 
certed ;  and,  giving  his  shoulders  an  extra  shrug,  he  took 
the  arm  of  Walcott  and  commenced  promenading  the 
deck. 

"  How  slowly,"  said  Captain  Waldron,  "  does  the  North- 
ern Light  move  along ! "  as  they  neared  the  Harbor  of 
Portsmouth. 

26 


302  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

"  So  it  seems  to  me,"  replied  Walcott ;  "  and  yet  they 
say  she  makes  good  headway." 

"  By  the  way,  ensign,"  said  Waldron,  "  what  do  you 
understand  by  the  general  feeling  among  us  that  something 
has  been  going  wrong  at  home  during  our  absence  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know,"  replied  Walcott ;  "  but  it  seems  as  if 
all  of  us  had  a  presentiment  of  the  same  thing.  Still  I 
am  in  hopes  that,  in  spite  of  all  these  forebodings,  every 
thing  will  be  clear  and  bright  when  we  reach  old  Laconia." 

"I  hope  so,  truly,"  cried  the  captain.  "At  any  rate,  I 
intend  to  know  how  matters  really  stand  before  I  sleep  if 
we  meet  with  no  accident  in  landing." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear,"  responded  Walcott,  "  that  you  in- 
tend to  go  directly  home  ;  and  I  will  accompany  you 
thither.     I  suppose  you  will  visit  Squire  Langdell's  first  ?  " 

"  I  could  go  nowhere  else  if  I  would,"  answered  Wal- 
dron ;  "  and  you  shall  accompany  me  thither  ;  and,  as  Ro- 
zella  and  Elsie  are  such  warm  friends,  it  may  be  that  the 
latter  will  be  at  the  squire's.  If  not,  you  will  bemad? 
welcome  there  ;  and  I  do  not  doubt  but  that  the  love- 
ly Rozella  will  accompany  me  as  your  escort  to  her  fa- 
ther's on  the  morrow." 

"  Nothing  would  suit  me  better,"  returned  Walcott ; 
"  and,  if  you  would  not  think  me  presuming,  I  would  sug- 
gest that  you  now  parade  the  company  and  dismiss  them, 
that  we  may  have  no  further  duties  to  perform  after  land- 
ing, but  be  able  to  proceed  directly  up  the  Cocheco." 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  the  captain  ;  "  and  I  was  just 
thinking  of  the  same  thing.  It  will  be  quite  a  saving  of 
time  ;  and,  besides,  the  chaplain  may  wish  to  make  some 
remarks  before  we  finally  separate." 

"  And  I  will  get  out  the  banner,"  said  Walcott,  "  that 
we  have  been  so  fortunate  in  preserving  ;  and  I  intend  it 
shall  never  go  out  of  my  hand  until  I  put  it  in  your  own, 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  303 

that  it  may  be  returned  to  Rozella,  as  you  promised  it 
should  be,  untarnished  and  undisgraced." 

The  ensign  started  to  the  cabin  for  the  banner,  and  the 
captain  gave  orders  that  the  company  should  be  paraded 
on  deck  for  a  formal  dismissal.  The  roll  of  the  drum  was 
now  heard,  and  the  next  moment  the  soldiers  rushed  on 
deck.  They  were  marshalled  in  proper  order,  and  the 
glorious  banner  was  unfurled  to  the  breeze.  As  its  silken 
folds  rolled  out  upon  the  air  a  spontaneous  cheer  burst 
from  the  lips  of  the  entire  company  and  pealed  far  over 
the  silent  deep.  The  captain  was  pale  from  excitement, 
and  his  voice  trembled  as  he  gave  the  necessary  orders  ; 
but,  turning  to  the  company,  he  addressed  them  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

"  Gentlemen,  officers,  and  fellow-soldiers  :  the  grati- 
tude of  my  heart,  that,  by  permission  of  a  kind  Providence, 
we  have  been  permitted  to  return,  is  too  deep  for  me  ad- 
equately to  express  ;  and  while  we  have  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  some  of  our  bravest  men  and  best  officers,  who  have 
fallen  in  the  glorious  cause  of  our  common  country,  still 
it  gives  me  pleasure  to  say  that  no  braver  men  have  fallen 
than  are  those  who  yet  survive.  For  the  prompt  obser- 
vance of  the  military  rules  and  orders,  so  necessarily  strict, 
you  are  to  be  as  much  commended  as  for  your  bravery. 
The  positions  in  which  we  have  been  placed  in  our  en- 
gagements have  been  much  against  us  and  in  favor  of  the 
enemy  ;  yet,  from  the  time  we  left  this  beautiful  Harbor  of 
Portsmouth,  into  which  we  are  about  to  enter,  you  have 
borne  yourselves  like  soldiers  and  fought  like  heroes. 
The  ship  from  Martinico  which  you  took  as  a  prize,  the 
transport  you  retook  after  it  had  escaped,  and  the  demol- 
ishing of  the  village  of  St.  Peter's  are  swift  witnesses  of 
your  deeds  of  valor. 

"  For  firing  the  warehouses  containing  the  naval  stores, 


304  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

when  thirteen  English  resolutely  confronted  a  hundred 
French  ;  in  the  tedious  labor,  for  fourteen  successive 
nights,  in  making  sledges  and  drawing  the  cannon  over 
the  deep  morass  ;  in  the  charge  upon  the  battery  by  night, 
in  which  the  brave  Armstrong  with  sixty  others  fell ;  in 
the  bombardment  of  the  city  from  the  harbor,  and  the 
battery  erected  on  Lighthouse  Cliff ;  in  the  blowing  up 
of  the  great  royal  magazine  and  consequent  panic  of  the 
French,  and  particularly  in  the  appearance  of  Ensign  Wiley 
Walcott  upon  his  noble  steed "  (here  Wiley  Walcott  for- 
got his  griefs  and  his  Elsie  for  the  moment,  and  gave  the 
"twist  comical,"  to  the  obstreperous  merriment  of  the 
whole  company  ;  and  Waldron  so  far  forgot  Rozella  as  to 
laugh  for  a  moment,  but,  quickly  recovering  himself,  con- 
tinued) "upon  the  walls  of  the  city,  with  yon  glorious  ban- 
ner waving  so  triumphantly  above  him  in  that  dread  scene 
of  death  when  the  mine  was  sprung  under  our  feet,  —  in 
each  and  all  of  these  was  your  stern  and  heroic  valor 
proved  and  established  ;  and  for  each  and  every  triumph 
receive,  gentlemen,  my  hearty  thanks  and  unqualified  com- 
mendation. And  now,  after  the  customary  services  by 
our  worthy  chaplain,  you  are  dismissed,  to  return  to  your 
homes  and  friends  in  such  manner  as  may  best  suit  your 
convenience.  Hoping  that  you  may  find  them  all  safe  and 
in  good  health,  I  now  bid  you  an  affectionate  farewell." 

The  chaplain  then  performed  his  official  duties ;  and,  as 
the  good  ship  Northern  Light  rode  into  the  harbor  and 
came  to  anchor,  the  eager  soldiers  crowded  the  boats 
which  conveyed  them  to  the  shore  to  their  utmost  capaci- 
ty, and,  springing  up  the  beach,  hastened  up  the  delightful 
banks  of  the  Cocheco  by  the  way  of  the  Upper  Plantation, 
now  Dover. 

After  the  landing  of  the  troops  Ensign  Walcott  furled 
his  banner,  and,  in  company  with  many  other  Mountain 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  305 

Rangers,  marched  rapidly  to  their  homes.  Waldron  and 
Walcott  secured  a  ride  with  a  man  from  the  Upper  Plan- 
tation, of  whom  they  anxiously  inquired  concerning  the 
state  of  their  beloved  Laconia. 

"  All  right  now,  I  believe,"  replied  the  man  of  the  whip. 
"  I  have  been  in  this  section  but  a  short  time,  and  have 
heard  that  there  have  been  troubles  and  massacres  in 
some  of  the  townships ;  but  all  is  quiet  in  our  settlement." 

"  I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  it !  "  exclaimed  Waldron,  as  he 
heaved  a  deep  sigh  of  relief. 

"  Good  news  at  last,"  added  Walcott. 

"  Do  you  know  one  Squire  Langdell,"  asked  Waldron 
of  the  teamster,  "  who  lives  up  the  Cocheco  valley  in  the 
direction  of  Merry  Meeting  Bay  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  heard  of  him,"  replied  the  teamster. 

"  He  is  a  new  comer,"  observed  Waldron  to  Walcott ; 
"  but  this  convinces  me  they  are  all  well  there  ;  for,  had 
any  thing  of  importance  transpired,  this  man  must  surely 
have  been  apprised  of  it." 

"  Certainly,"  answered  Walcott.  "  My  nerves  are  a 
pretty  good  barometer  to  notify  me  when  a  storm  is  at 
hand  ;  and  I  tell  you,  captain,  it  is  clear  sky  over  old  La- 
conia yet." 

By  this  time  the  honest  yeoman  had  reached  his  home  ; 
so  the  two  soldiers,  who  were  now  far  in  advance  of  all 
their  comrades,  sped  on  their  way  with  lighter  hearts  than 
ever.  They  travelled  on  through  the  woods,  remarking 
upon  the  new  houses  which  had  been  built  in  the  cleared 
patches  since  they  left  the  settlement.  But  they  at  length 
came  to  the  foot  of  the  hill  from  whose  summit  Waldron 
had  taken  his  last  look  of  the  lovely  Rozella,  and  dashed 
away  the  tear  which  moistened  his  eye  at  the  thought  that 
he  might  be  leaving  her  forever.  His  heart  beat  so  vio- 
lently that  it  seemed  as  if  about  to  burst  from  his  bosom  ; 
and  he  sat  down  with  his  companion  to  rest.  More  rest- 
26* 


306  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

less  than  rested,  they  soon  sprang  up  and  ran  rather  than 
walked  up  the  hill ;  and  there  stood  the  old  house,  seen 
darkly  and  dimly  through  the  night  air ;  but  to  Waldron 
it  never  looked  so  large  or  so  pleasant  before. 

"There  is  the  grand  old  house  ! "  cried  Waldron,  press- 
ing his  hands  over  his  heart.  "  How  my  heart  leaps  to 
again  behold  it !  for  there  dwells  the  one  so  unutterably 
dear  to  me  and  for  whom  I  have  gladly  toiled  and  suffered." 

As  they  passed  on  a  moving  light  was  seen  shining  over 
the  upper  half  of  the  window,  the  shutter  of  the  lower 
half  being  closed. 

"  It's  she  !  "  exclaimed  Waldron,  rapturously  ;  "  indeed, 
it  can  be  no  other  than  my  own  White  Pigeon." 

They  now  walked  to  the  door,  before  which  still  lay 
the  remains  of  the  platform  upon  which  Rozella  stood  on 
the  night  of  their  departure.  On  raising  their  eyes  to 
the  window,  the  light  from  an  open  space  between  the 
shutter  and  the  casing  enabled  them  to  get  a  limited  view 
of  the  apartment ;  and  to  their  unbounded  joy  they  caught 
a  glimpse  of  her  who  was  within,  clad  in  the  well-known 
russet  dress  and  blue  spencer  so  familiar  to  their  eager 
gaze.  Waldron  caught  Walcott  by  the  arm  with  a  con- 
vulsive grasp  and  exclaimed,  — 

"  Do  you  see  that  dress  ?    Is  it  not  the  same  ?  " 

"  The  same,  sure  enough,"  replied  he. 

"  And  look  again,"  cried  Waldron,  as  a  second  form 
moved  between  them  and  the  light ;  "  by  the  glimpse  of 
her  dress,  the  other  can  be  none  other  than  Elsie  Tufton." 

It  was  now  Walcott's  turn  to  grasp  the  arm  of  his  com- 
panion as  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  Can  it  be  possible  ?     0  that  it  may  be  so  !  " 

"  'Tis  she,  I  can  assure  you,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "  for 
she  has  on  the  same  dress  that  she  wore  at  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  banner." 

"  Well,  captain,"  responded  the  now  overjoyed  Walcott, 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  307 

"  I  am  perfectly  happy.  Two  happier  soldiers,  captain, 
never  returned  to  their  truehearted  than  you  and  I.  I 
wish  they  would  come  forward  again,  so  that  we  might 
see  their  lovely  faces." 

"  I  can't  endure  this  longer,"  said  Waldron  ;  "  let  us  go 
in.  Now  put  all  your  courage  on,  for  I  am  about  to 
rap." 

"Rap,  then,"  returned  Walcott,  "and  let  us  get  through 
the  preliminaries  as  soon  as  possible  ;  for,  although  I  am 
not  exactly  afraid,  yet  my  heart  throbs  as  though  it  would 
burst  my  side.  I  was  never  fainthearted  before,  even 
when  the  fiery  mouths  of  a  hundred  cannon  were  belch- 
ing forth  death  and  destruction  in  our  very  faces." 

They  now  mounted  the  steps  and  rapped  loudly  at  the 
door ;  and  in  a  moment  the  window  above  them  was 
raised,  and  a  female  voice  exclaimed,  "  The  brave  hero  has 
come ! " 

"  'Tis  Rozella's  voice,"  said  Waldron  ;  "  I  should  know 
its  dulcet  tones  among  a  thousand  others."  As  he  spoke 
he  again  raised  his  eyes  to  feast  them  upon  the  dear  face 
which  had  so  long  haunted  his  sleeping  and  his  waking 
dreams ;  but,  as  he  did  so,  the  wind  through  the  raised 
window  extinguished  the  light,  so  that  he  failed  to  accom- 
plish his  purpose.  The  next  moment  the  outer  door  was 
opened,  and  as  Captain  Waldron  entered  a  voice  ex- 
claimed, "  0,  my  brave  hero  has  come-  at  last ! "  and  he 
was  clasped  in  the  embrace  of  the  fair  speaker. 

"  0  my  love!  my  idol !  "-cried  Waldron,  straining  her  to 
his  breast.  "  Please  excuse  me  for  disturbing  you  at  this 
late  hour ;  but  I  was  over-anxious  to  again  look  upon  that 
sweet  face,  and  to  see  that  blushing  cheek  whose  glowing 
hue  shames  and  outvies  the  summer  rose."  While  this 
was  transpiring  Ensign  Walcott  flew  in  by  the  captain 
and  rushed  into  the  arms  of  his  idol,  uttering  similar 
phrases  of  endearment,  and  crying  out,  "  I  have  come, 


308  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

dearest  Elsie,  to  throw  myself  at  your  feet ;  and  0,  do 
not,  I  beseech  you,  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  my  suit." 

"How  can  I  refuse  one  so  brave  and  so  devoted?"  was 
the  reply.  "  All  I  am,  or  ever  can  l^e,  is  a  thousand  times 
yours." 

"Not  a  night,"  continued  Waldron,  "has  passed,  since 
I  left  my  own  dear  one,  but  I  have  dreamed  of  you,  and 
you  only  ;  nor  has  a  single  waking  thought  been  given  to 
any  one  save  your  lovely  self.  And  now  that  we  are  united 
at  last,  never,  faever  will  we  part." 

"  Never,  no,  never,"  replied  the  fair  embraced  idol ; 
"  you  must  never  leave  these  fond  encircling  arms." 

A  short  pause  from  sheer  exhaustion  in  the  excitement 
of  what  the  gallant  ensign  had  not  unaptly  termed  "  the 
preliminaries "  now  ensued  ;  and  in  a  few  moments 
another  lady,  who  had  been  aroused  by  the  tumultuous 
greetings,  came  with  a  light  into  the  entry,  where  the 
happy,  yea,  thrice  happy  pairs  were  still  standing  in  lov- 
ing embrace.  She  advanced  closer,  and,  letting  the  light 
shine  full  upon  them,  lo  and  behold,  there  was  the  brave 
Captain  Waldron  worshipping  at  the  feet  of  old  Dolly 
Plot  ;  while  the  gallant  Ensign  Walcott  was  in  the  fond 
embrace  of  another  creature  equally  objectionable  ! 

"  Blood  and  horrors !  "  shouted  the  captain,  as  he  sprang 
back  as  from  the  coil  of  some  loathsome  serpent. 

"  Honey  and  heroes  !  "  retorted  old  Dolly. 

".For  what  purpose  are  you  here,  you  witch?"  cried 
Waldron,  as  he  glared  angrily  on  her. 

"  Call  me  not  witch  in  my  own  house,"  retorted  Dolly, 

"Your  own  house?     Ha  !  "  cried  Waldron. 

"Yes,"  returned  she,  "  my  house  ;  and  I  would  give  you 
to  understand  that  I  am  mistress  of  it  too  ;  and  if  you 
give  me  any  more  of  your  insults  I  will  show  you  that  I 
have  power  enough,  witch  or  no  witch,  to  lay  you  upon 
the  floor." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  309 

The  captain  drew  his  sword  and  turned  round  to  the 
ensign ;  but  as  his  eye  fell  upon  the  other  "  strange  wo- 
man," he  burst  out,  "  Horror !  What !  another  of  the  in- 
fernal crew  ?  "  and  returned  his  sword  to  its  sheath. 

M  You  will  suffer  for  the  liberties  you  have  taken  to- 
night," said  Dolly.  "  My  hand  aches  now,  and  I  really 
believe  you  have  broken  it." 

"  But  where  is  Rozella,"  inquired  Waldron,  "  whose  dresa 
you  now  disgrace  ?  " 

"She  is  where  they  don't  need  to  dress  in  such  style 
as  such  fine  ladies  as  we  are  must  do,"  replied  Dolly. 

"  And  where  is  Elsie  Tufton  ?  "  demanded  the  ensign, 
as  he  gave  one  glance  of  intense  disgust  at  her  who  had 
on  the  habiliments  of  his  dear  Elsie,  "  in  whose  clothes 
you  are  now  incased  ?  " 

"Be  careful  how  you  throw  out  your  insinuations,"  re- 
plied Mag  Naylor  ;  for  such  was  the  name  of  her  whom  he 
addressed. 

"  0,  what  fiends  have  we  fallen  among,"  said  Waldron, 
"where  we  most  expected  to  find  friends!  And  although 
I  am  not  given  to  profanity,  and  do  not  wish  to  lower 
myself  by  dealing  out  unnecessary  anathemas  upon  your 
unworthy  heads,  still  I  must  say  that  you  are  demons  in 
the  garbs  of  angels.  Now,  Dolly  Plot,  I  demand  of  you 
to  tell  me,  if  you  know,  where  that  angel  is  whose  robes 
you  have  on." 

"  The  angel  is  in  them  still,"  was  Dolly's  sneering 
reply. 

"  I  have  heard,"  resumed  the  captain,  "  that,  when  a  ser- 
pent cast  off  its  skin,  another  filthy  reptile  sometimes 
took  possession  of  the  old  slough  ;  but  never  before  did  I 
hear  of  an  old  snake  crawling  into  and  wearing  the  dress 
of  an  angel." 

Dolly's  dignity  was  touched  by  this  side  wind,  and  she 
bounced  about  the  room  in  a  perfect  tempest  of  wrath. 


310  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

She  then  ran  into  the  other  room,  caught  up  the  shovel 
and  commenced  pounding  on  the  floor. 

"  It's  of  no  use,"  said  Waldron  ;  "  your  tricks  are  too  well 
known  to  produce  any  effect  on  us  soldiers.  Now,  since 
you  will  not  tell  us  where  Rozella  is,  will  you  inform  us 
of  the  whereabouts  of  the  owner  of  this  house  ?  " 

"  Here  she  is,"  answered  Dolly ;  "  I  am  the  owner  of 
this  house." 

"  Where  is  Squire  Langdell  ?  "  asked  Waldron,  becom- 
ing impatient  at  her  evasions.    "  Is  he  at  home  ?  " 

"  I  heard,"  replied  Dolly,  with  a  malicious  grin,  "  that 
he  had  gone  to  his  long  home  ;  and  I  hope  it  is  true.  And 
you,  Britton  Waldron,  had  better  make  yourself  scarce, 
or  you  may  go  to  a  worse  place,  for  insulting  a  lady  like 
me ;  for  when  Mr.  Janus  comes  home,  which  will  be  be- 
fore many  hours,  he  will  make  you  suffer,  whether  you  are 
his  majesty's  soldiers  or  his  majesty's  scavengers." 

"Is  it  the  notorious  Dick  Janus  to  whom  you  refer?" 
asked  Waldron. 

"  The  same,"  answered  Dolly ;  "  and  a  fine  man  he  is 
too." 

"He's  a  thief  and  a  coward,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "and  I 
should  like  nothing  better  than  to  meet  him." 

"  He  will  be  here  soon,"  said  Dolly  ;  "  I  thought  it  was 
he  when  you  intruded  your  impudent  face  into  the  door ; 
but,  finding  out  my  mistake,  I  thought  I  would  remain  quiet 
and  give  you  a  chance  to  discover  yours." 

"And  where  is  his  companion,  Jack  Taurus?"  asked 
Waldron. 

"  Aha ! "  cried  Dolly,  "  I  thought  you  would  come  to  it 
at  last.  If  you  must  know,  then,  I  will  tell  you.  Mr. 
Taurus  and  Miss  Rozella  Langdell  left  the  pleasant  land 
of  Laconia  in  the  nighttime.  Their  affection  was  so 
strong  that  neither  could  leave  without  the  other ;  so  they 
went  off  together." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  311 

"  Horror  of  horrors ! "  cried  the  captain.  "  To  what 
place  did  they  fly  ?  I  will  follow  them  this  very  night ; 
and,  if  I  can  but  reach  her  side  and  lay  me  down  and 
die,  I  shall  be  content." 

"  Whew ! "  whistled  Dolly,  rising  on  tiptoe  with  exulta- 
tion, as  she  saw  she  had  now  touched  him  upon  the  raw. 
"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  captain,  Rozella  Langdell  never 
loved  but  one,  which  one  you  supposed  to  be  yourself ;  but 
as  soon  as  you  were  gone  fog  hunting  she  was  seen  in 
company  with  Taurus  in  the  woods  between  here  and 
the  North  Road,  and  they  were  known  to  turn  off  from 
the  road,  and  were  seen  by  an  Indian  hunter  going 
towards  a  certain  cave  in  the  mountains,  and  to  the  very 
spot  where  Taurus  assured  her  that  he  should  locate  his 
house." 

"  Impossible ! "  sobbed  Waldron,  now  entirely  unmanned, 
as  he  staggered  against  the  door. 

"  It  is  true,  every  word  of  it,"  added  Mag  Naylor ; 
"  and  you  had  not  been  gone  more  than  a  fortnight  before 
Taurus  was  seen  at  this  house,  and  in  this  very  room  ;  and 
Rozella  hastened  to  get  him  something  to  eat  —  called 
him  poor  man,  and  said  she  knew  he  must  be  tired  and 
hungry  ;  and  even  went  so  far  as  to  get  out  her  tea  set 
for  him.  And  besides  this,  Mrs.  Langdell  got  him  the 
easy  chair  and  insisted  that  he  should  sit  in  it ;  and  such 
a  fuss  and  parade  did  they  make  over  him  that  even  little 
Owega  thought  she  must  do  something  as  well  as  the  rest, 
and  so  brought  him  some  water." 

"  0  horror !  horror ! "  shrieked  the  captain.  "  I  can  hear 
no  more." 

"That's  what  I  thought,"  chuckled  Dolly  Plot;  "and 
from  that  night  when  she  absconded  with  him  her  poor 
parents'  hearts  sunk  under  the  awful  blow  ;  and  I  sup- 
pose they  both  have  died  of  broken  hearts  long  before 
this." 


312  LEGENDS   OP   IACONIA. 

The  words  had  hardly  passed  her  lips  when  with  a 
hollow  groan  Waldron  fell  upon  the  floor  faint  and 
senseless.  Walcott  flew  to  his  assistance ;  while  Dolly 
and  Mag,  catching  each  other  around  the  waist,  whirled 
and  waltzed  in  regular  witch  style,  and  sung  the  "  Devil's 
Dream." 

"  Ha !  ha ! "  exclaimed  a  gruff  voice  at  the  door.  u  What 
does  all  this  mean  ?  A  high  time  you  are  having  in  my 
absence." 

"  0  Janus,"  cried  both  the  women,  "  how  glad  we  are 
that  you  have  come  !  " 

"  Yes,  dearest  Janus,"  pursued  Dolly  ;  "  these  mean  in- 
truders here  have  been  insulting  us  ladies  in  the  most 
outrageous  manner ;  but  I  soon  laid  the  captain,  as  all 
foul  spirits  should  be  laid,  with  the  magic  wand  of  my 
tongue." 

Janus  now  stepped  in,  followed  by  another  ill-favored 
man  like  himself;  and  Dolly,  winding  up  the  striking 
weight  of  her  tongue,  rattled  off  to  them  the  whole  pro- 
ceedings of  the  night  with  such  rapidity  that  compared 
to  it  the  quick  chime  of  an  alarm  clock  would  seem  but 
the  infrequent  strokes  of  a  fog  bell.  By  the  time  Dolly's 
tongue  had  run  down,  Captain  Waldron,  by  the  aid  of 
some  cold  water  with  which  the  ensign  had  bathed  his 
burning  temples,  had  partially  recovered.  Janus  now 
came  forward,  still  clad  in  his  striped  frock  and  funnel 
hat ;  but  he  had  been  so  intemperate  of  late  that  his  fallen 
red  eyelid  and  scarred  cheek  looked  more  fiery  than  ever. 

"  I  demand,  Captain  Waldron,"  said  he,  in  a  loud,  blus 
tering  tone,  "  that  you  leave  my  house  immediately,  and 
never  enter  it  again." 

"  Your  house  ?  "  returned  the  captain.  "  How  many 
owners  are  there  for  these  premises  ?  That  witch  there 
just  said  it  was  hers." 

"  So  it  is,"  replied  Janus  ;  "  and  mine  too." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  313 

"Married,  eh?"  observed  the  captain. 

"  Yes  ;  and  it's  our  house,"  snarled  Dolly  ;  "we  are  its 
masters,  and  the  good  people  of  Laconia  cannot  get  rid 
of  us  so  easily.  They  attempted  to  banish  my  dear  Janus 
from  the  country,  and  sentenced  him  to  be  shot  as  an 
outlaw  if  he  returned,  and  sentenced  me  to  be  sent  to 
an  island  in  the  Winnipiseogee.  But  Janus  escaped  from 
the  men  who  were  taking  him  to  Portsmouth,  and  I  never 
quitted  this  section  of  the  country.  So  here  we  are ;  and 
how  are  you  going  to  help  yourself?" 

The  soldiers  both  drew  their  swords  ;  and  the  ensign 
gathered  up  the  banner,  which  had  fallen  on  the  floor. 

"Stand  back,"  shouted  the  captain,  "ye  thieves  and 
outlaws ! "  and,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  caused  his 
good  sword  to  cut  the  air  before  him.  The  enemy  now 
put  themselves  in  battle  array  —  the  women  being  in  front, 
and  their  bold  defenders  in  the  rear.  Dolly  had  put  on  her 
high  cap ;  and  now,  as  she  stood  directly  in  front  of  her 
giant  companion,  his  eye  glared  just  over  its  peak.  Tab 
had  dashed  in  from  the  outside,  and  stood  spitting  and 
sputtering  upon  the  table,  with  his  back  curved  .and 
arched  and  his  hair  standing  up  like  the  bristles  of  a 
brush  ;  and  Mag  Naylor  stood  in  front  of  Janus,  with  the 
backs  of  her  uplifted  hands  resting  upon  her  shoulders, 
and  her  long,  skinny  fingers  spread  out  and  bent  ready  for 
action. 

"  Leave  this  house,"  commanded  the  captain,  "  every  one 
of  ye !  "  at  the  same  time,  with  an  adroit  cut  of  his  sword, 
causing  the  upper  story  of  Dolly's  cap  to  fall  to  the  floor  and 
the  blood  to  gush  from  the  giant's  split  nose  at  one  and  the 
same  blow.  The  brave  Janus  retreated  to  a  back  room  ; 
while  Mag  Naylor's  nails  had  only  reached  the  ensign's 
sword,  the  edge  of  which  proved  too  sharp  for  her  delicate 
fingers.  The  giant  had  now  become  aroused,  and  both 
parties  were  preparing  for  a  sudden  onslaught,  when  the 
27 


314  LEGENDS   OF    LACONIA. 

door  flew  open,  and  Grizzly  Gridley,  with  a  dozen  brave 
soldiers  whom  the  captain  had  left  in  the  rear,  bounded 
into  the  room  as  Dolly  Plot  and  her  associates  dashed  out 
at  the  back  door  and  were  lost  in  the  darkness ;  for  the 
light  in  the  hand  of  the  other  lady  blew  out  just  as  Grid- 
ley  caught  sight  of  her. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

Waldeon's  Sickness  and  Recovery.  —  He  is  infoemed  op  the  Cap- 
txjee  op  rozella.  —  vlsit  op  hi9  fluends.  —  waldeon's  vl8it  to 
Meeey  Meeting  Bay,  and  his  Despondency. 

It  was  on  a  mild  morning  in  early  autumn,  nearly  two 
weeks  after  the  return  of  the  soldiers  from  Cape  Breton, 
that  the  sunbeams  came  into  the  little  bed  chamber  of 
Captain  Waldron  at  the  house  of  his  only  sister,  now  Mrs. 
Marine  Lee.  The  fatigue  of  the  war,  the  excitement  of 
the  return,  the  heartrending  disappointment  he  had  met 
in  not  meeting  his  adored  Rozella,  and,  what  was  a  thou- 
sand times  worse  than  all  the  rest,  the  torturing  bejief,  at 
the  time  he  fell  under  the  powerful  battery  of  Dolly  Plot's 
tongue,  that  Rozella  had  proved  false  to  him  and  absconded 
with  his  bitterest  enemy,  the  depraved  Taurus,  had  be- 
wildered his  mind  for  a  time,  and  induced  a  severe  though 
short  fit  of  sickness.  Dolly  Plot,  to  be  sure,  with  her 
inherent  shrewdness,  had  in  her  artful  recital  to  Waldron 
told  the  truth,  but  in  such  a  strange  way  as  to  lie  most 
basely  in  the  telling.  She  had  put  darkness  for  light  and 
evil  for  good  in  a  manner  that  would  have  raised  a  blush 
on  the  cheek  of  a  brazen-faced,  latter-day  politician  ;  but 
the  violence  of  the  first  attack  was  now  over,  and  Wal- 
dron was  slowly  recovering  from  the  sad  effects  of  that 
poisonous  virus  which  the  venomous  fangs  of  this  loath- 
some serpent  had  injected  into  his  very  heart's  blood.  On 
the  day  of  the  above-named  morning  Mrs.  Marine  Lee 

(315) 


316  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

found  Waldron  so  far  recovered  that  she  ventured  to 
relate  the  details  of  all  the  events  which  had  transpired 
from  the  evening  of  the  presentation  of  the  banner  to  the 
night  when  the  Indians  burst  in  upon  them  at  the  party  at 
the  house  of  Squire  Langdell ;  that  Marine,  herself,  and 
some  of  the  other  neighbors  had  escaped,  but  many  had 
been  carried  away,  among  whom  were  the  whole  Langdell 
family  and  the  Tuftons,  and  bones  had  been  found  in  the 
woods  where  some  of  the  captives  had  been  burned,  which 
were  still  lying  in  the  ashes  of  their  torturing  fires. 
She  assured  him  that  Taurus  must  have  been  the  guide  of 
the  attacking  party  of  Indians ;  for  he  had  been  absent 
ever  since  the  seizure  of  Janus  at  the  cave,  and  was  seen 
with  them  on  their  arrival  and  departure.  They  had 
also  learned  from  Chocorua's  dying  speech  that  Taurus 
had  gone  to  arouse  the  Nepissins  and  Apenaquis,  who  be- 
longed to  the  great  St.  Francis  tribe  in  Canada  ;  and  it 
was  no  doubt  they  who  had  captured  their  friends  and 
taken  them  to  their  head  quarters  to  be  sold  to  the  French, 
who  were  paying  large  bounties  for  captives  or  for  their 


To  all  this  Waldron  listened  with  intense  interest ;  and 
lie  felt  somewhat  relieved  to  learn  that  Rozella  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Indians,  or  in  any  hands  save  those  of  Jack 
Taurus. 

"  But,"  asked  he,  "  how  came  Dolly  Plot  and  her  tribe 
in  Squire  Langdell's  house  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  tell,"  replied  Mrs.  Lee,  "  how  it  happened  ; 
but  I  suppose,  as  it  was  empty  and  no  one  claimed  owner- 
ship over  it,  they  took  possession  on  their  own  responsi- 
bility. It  is  not  a  month  since  I  heard  that  the  settlers 
talked  of  raising  a  force  and  driving  them  out ;  but  Mr. 
Lee  advised  them  that,  as  we  had  had  so  much  trouble  and 
bloodshed  of  late,  the  settlers  should  keep  quiet  until  the 
return  of  the  Mountain  Rangers,  when  they  would  be 


LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA.  317 

strong  enough  to  risk  another  contest ;  for  it  is  pretty 
generally  believed  that  Dolly  Plot  has  laid  all  the  plans 
of  nearly  all  the  Indian  massacres  which  have  hitherto 
taken  place ;  and  for  that  reason  the  settlers  are  a  little 
afraid  of  entering  into  a  contest  with  her.  So  no  one  has 
interfered  with  her  affairs  until  the  evening  of  your 
arrival." 

"  Well/'  rejoined  the  captain,  "  she  got  driven  out  that 
night  at  any  rate  ;  and  I  wonder  if  she  has  returned 
yet." 

"  I  believe  not,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but  that  Janus  and  the 
giant  returned  the  next  morning  and  removed  her  effects 
to  her  former  residence  on  the  island." 

"  She  shall  not  be  suffered,"  replied  Waldron,  "  to  go 
unwhipped  of  justice." 

The  next  day  Waldron  was  so  much  better  that  he  sat  up 
and  received  the  calls  of  his  comrades,  at  which  his 
spirits  were  much  revived.  Besides  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lee, 
there  were  present  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moody,  Wiley  Walcott, 
and  Grizzly  Gridley.  Their  conversation  was,  for  the 
most  part,  upon  the  changes  that  had  taken  place  in  the 
settlement  during  their  absence  at  Cape  Breton. 

"  Every  thing  now  appears  so  gloomy,"  said  the  chap- 
lain, "  and  every  face  so  sad,  that  it  is  melancholy  and 
depressing  to  one's  spirits  to  walk  about  among  the  set- 
tlers, particularly  since  we  left  them  on  the  evening  of 
our  departure  so  cheerful  and  happy.  Now  the  house 
where  all  visitors  were  met  and  welcomed  with  free  and 
openhearted  generosity  stands  empty  and  desolate,  and 
its  beloved  inmates  driven  forth  no  one  knows  whither. 
And  Rozella,  who  was  not  only  the  chief  attraction  of  her 
father's  house,  but  the  pride  of  all  Laconia, — whose  ear  and 
hand  were  alike  open  to  hear  and  relieve  the  distresses  of 
the  poor  aud  needy,  —  is  now,  if  living,  confined  among 
filthy  savages  in  their  smoky  wigwams,  there  to  suffer  for 
27* 


318  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

her  beauty  and  goodness  ;  and  her  own  sufferings  will  be 
greatly  enhanced  by  those  of  her  dear  parents  ;  for,  were 
they  safe  at  home  she  would  bear  her  own  burden  of 
sorrow  most  heroically.  Elsie  Tufton,  too,  and  her  aged 
father  and  sister,  are  gone.  My  heart  bleeds  for  poor 
Elsie ;  for  she  suffered  so  much  when  Charles  Cutts  was 
murdered  that  I  hoped  nothing  more  of  grief  or  anguish 
would  be  added  to  her  already  overflowing  cup  of  bitter- 
ness." As  he  closed,  the  chaplain  raised  his  eyes  to  those 
of  his  silent  auditors,  Waldron  and  Walcott,  who,  with 
faces  bathed  in  tears,  turned  from  his  gaze  like  children  to 
hide  the  swelling  flood  gushing  up  from  the  depths  of  their 
great  souls.  The  conversation  now  took  a  more  general 
turn,  and  Waldron  learned  for  the  first  time  the  frightful 
extent  of  the  murders  and  massacres  which  had  been 
sweeping  like  a  pestilence  over  the  land  in  the  absence  of 
the  Mountain  Rangers. 

He  learned  that  the  Indians  had  been  carrying  the  torch 
and  scalping  knife  along  the  whole  extent  of  the  frontiers, 
that  scouts  had  been  cut  off,  garrisons  demolished  or 
fired,  and  that  the  French  and  Indians  had  swept  the  fron- 
tiers and  committed  depredations  all  along  their  borders. 
Women  had  been  killed  and  scalped,  and  young  maidens 
of  tender  age  had  been  carried  off.  The  brains  of  infants 
had  been  dashed  out  before  their  mothers'  eyes,  who  upon 
their  knees  were  begging  and  entreating  that  their  lives 
might  be  spared  and  praying  to  Heaven  for  aid  and  succor. 
Their  fields  of  waving  grain  had  been  fired  when  ripe  for 
the  sickle  ;  and  the  cattle  had  been  mutilated  and  left  with 
their  tongues  cut  out,  to  perish  miserably,  or  were  slaugh- 
tered for  their  amusement  as  well  as  for  food. 

Women  were  compelled  to  prepare  their  food  and  wait 
upon  them  ;  and,  when  the  savage  repast  was  finished,  they 
cut  off  the  hand  that  had  fed  them.  All  business  had  been 
suspended,  even  the  tillage  of  the  fields  ;  and  every  wood 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  319 

and  plain  was  full  of  darkness,  danger,  and  death.  The 
mills  were  far  away  from  the  latest  settlers  ;  and,  when  the 
people  could  do  without  bread  no  longer,  they  were 
obliged  to  rally  a  company  and  march  to  the  mills  with  a 
strong  guard.  From  the  Fort  of  William  and  Mary,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua,  to  Bridgeman's  Fort,  and 
Fort  Dummer,  at  Number  Four,  and  at  Winchester,  the  in- 
habitants were  ambushed  and  shot  down  while  at  work, 
and  their  houses  burned.  From  the  White  Mountains, 
through  Pennacook,  Suncook,  and  Contoocook,  to  Hoosac, 
in  Massachusetts,  the  inhabitants  were  butchered  and 
scalped  in  their  houses,  which  were  set  on  fire,  and  their 
bodies  left  to  smoulder  among  the  blackened  ruins.  And 
in  some  cases  they  roasted  their  prisoners  by  slow  fires, 
cutting  out  their  tongues  while  they  yet  lived,  and  maim- 
ing and  disfiguring  their  bodies  in  the  most  barbarous 
manner  that  savage  ingenuity  could  invent.  Old  men  and 
women,  bent  and  bowed  down  by  long  years  of  sorrow, 
were  compelled  to  run  the  gantlet,  and  were  struck  down 
by  the  tomahawk  when  they  could  run  no  farther. 

"  Hold !  "  cried  Waldron,  as  the  narrator  reached  the  last 
point,  and  bounded  from  his  bed  with  the  fury  of  a  tiger  ; 
and  leaping  for  his  sword,  which  hung  high  upon  the  raft- 
ers of  the  cabin,  brought  it  with  him  to  the  floor. 

"  Now,"  cried  Waldron,  in  a  loud  voice,  and  flashing  the 
bright  weapon  high  in  air,  "  *  Richard's  himself  again  ; '  and 
this  sword  shall  never  be  finally  sheathed  until  the  French 
and  the  St.  Francis  Indians  are  overthrown,  and  Rozella 
and  Elsie,  with  their  friends,  liberated  and  brought  in 
safety  to  our  borders." 

Wiley  Walcott  sprang  forward  and  threw  his  arms  around 
his  neck,  while  tears  of  joy  gushed  from  lids  where  nought 
but  wily  and  tricksome  gambols  had  played  until  the 
night  they  reached  Laconia  from  Cape  Breton.  Grizzly 
Gridley  next  came  forward  to  offer  his  services  ;  and,  when 


320  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

their  hands  met,  they  came  together  with  a  report  like 
that  of  a  pistol.  Marine  Lee  then  caught  the  captain's 
hand,  and,  assuming  his  old  sailor  vernacular,  sang  out,  "  I 
must  launch  my  craft,  boys,  on  this  voyage,  if  you  are 
determined  to  go  to  the  leeward."  And  he,  too,  struck 
hands  with  the  captain,  as  a  pledge  to  aid  and  assist  in  the 
good  cause. 

M  And  I  will  make  cartridges,"  added  Mrs.  Lee,  "  until 
you  are  ready  to  start." 

"  And  I,"  said  the  chaplain,  "  will  now  ask  that  the 
blessing  and  smiles  of  Providence  may  accompany  you  ; 
and  of  course  I  would  go  myself  had  I  not  completed  an 
engagement  to  settle." 

The  captain  then  exclaimed,  "  The  first  thing  to  be  done 
is  to  enlist  the  soldiers  for  a  new  campaign.  How  many 
of  the  old  Mountain  Rangers  will  go  ?  " 

"Half,  I  doubt  not,"  replied  Lieutenant  Gridley  ;  "  and 
the  other  half  can  be  raised  in  the  adjoining  towns,  I  pre- 
sume." 

"  Easily,"  added  Ensign  Walcott. 

"Is  that  precious  banner  safe,  ensign,"  asked  Wal 
dron. 

"  It  is,"  replied  the  ensign  ;  "  or  I  would  not  show  my 
unworthy  head  in  your  presence,  I  assure  you." 

"  All  right,  then,"  returned  the  captain ;  and  "All  right " 
responded  the  others. 

"Nil  desperandum,"  said  the  chaplain,  which  brought 
down  the  house  in  a  perfect  storm  of  applause. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  first?  "  inquired  Waldron. 

"You  are  not  quite  strong  enough  yet,  captain,"  ob- 
served the  chaplain,  "  to  take  the  field,  and  must  lie  still 
for  a  week  to  come  at  least.  Meanwhile  the  lieutenant, 
ensign,  and  myself  will  go  among  the  settlers  to  ascertain 
how  many  will  volunteer,  and  then  report  to  head 
quarters." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  321 

"  I  am  ready  to  start  this  very  hour,"  said  Gridley. 

"And  so  ami,"  added  Walcott. 

"  Now,"  asked  the  captain,  "  what  is  to  be  done  with 
this  foul  spirit,  Dolly  Plot  ?  She  will  hear  of  our  expedi- 
tion and  overthrow  the  whole  scheme,  or  send  runners  to 
M.  Durantage,  the  French  commander-in-chief  in  Canada, 
and  to  the  St.  Francis  tribe,  who  will  be  on  the  defensive 
or  perhaps  destroy  their  prisoners." 

"  I  hardly  know,"  replied  Gridley.  "  She  is  a  hard  coin 
to  dispose  of." 

"  And  a  spurious  one,  too,"  added  Mrs.  Lee. 

"  I  have  it  at  last,"  said  Marine  ;  "  a  scheme  which  I 
think  will  succeed." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  was  the  general  inquiry. 

"  Let  the  soldiers,"  said  Lee,  "  who  enlist  for  the  new 
expedition  meet  at  her  hut  on  the  island,  and  I  will  then 
and  there  make  known  my  plan.  I  warrant  you,"  contin- 
ued Lee,  "  she  will  not  frighten  us  away  as  she  did  the 
king's  bum  bailiff  when  he  came  to  arrest  her  on  a  former 
occasion." 

It  was  a  bright,  warm  day,  when  Captain  Waldron,  who 
had  now  quite  recovered  from  his  illness,  was  riding  along 
in  the  vicinity  of  Merry  Meeting  Pond.  He  had  been 
visiting  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell,  and  had  lingered 
long  in  the  now  vacant  rooms,  and  strolled  sadly  through 
the  tangled  paths  of  the  once  beautiful  garden,  with  its 
little  neglected  plats  of  choice  flowers,  now  choked  by 
unsightly  weeds  and  sickly  from  neglect.  Here,  in  hap- 
pier days,  had  he  walked  with  his  own  chosen  Rozella,and 
here  had  her  merry  laugh  rung  out  upon  the  air  like  the 
spring  notes  of  some  joyous  bird,  telling  that  in  her  heart 
at  least 

"  'Twas  May  —  always  May." 

But  now,  as  he  rode  on,  his  heart  grew  heavy,  and  his 


322  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

brow  contracted  with  deep  gloom,  and  irrepressible  tears 
gushed  from  his  eyes.  He  next  approached  the  house  of 
Robert  Tufton.  The  glass  was  broken  in  the  windows  of 
the  lonely  dwelling  ;  the  fences  around  the  premises  had 
fallen  down  ;  and  the  doors  of  the  dilapidated  barn  creaked 
and  groaned  dismally  as  they  swung  loose  upon  their  rusty 
hinges.  The  grass  had  grown  rank  and  tall  before  the 
house  and  upon  the  embankment  where  the  light  feet  of  the 
sunny-faced  Elsie  had  so  often  trod  as  she  tripped  out  to  wel- 
come his  approach  ;  and  his  grief  at  the  utter  loneliness 
and  desolation  of  the  scene  was  scarcely  less  poignant 
than  it  was  at  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell.  He  reined 
his  horse  around  the  shady  side  of  the  forsaken  dwelling  ; 
and  there  sat  his  old  companion  in  arms,  Ensign  Walcott, 
with  his  handkerchief  pressed  to  his  eyes  and  bathed  in 
tears.  The  two  brave  soldiers,  who  in  so  many  bloody 
conflicts  had  gazed  with  unflinching  steadiness  into  the 
fierce  and  glaring  eyes  of  their  savage  foes,  now  melted 
into  tears  before  each  other's  look.  Neither  spoke  ;  and  the 
next  moment  the  captain's  horse,  as  if  aware  of  the  feelings 
of  his  rider,  wheeled  and  bore  him  rapidly  from  the  melan- 
choly scene.  As  he  passed  the  rude  causeway  over  the 
little  rippling  stream  which  still  gurgled  musically  as  ever, 
but  whose  silver  chime  seemed  to  the  sad  heart  of  Wal- 
dron  to  toll  the  passing  knell  of  the  departed  dear  ones, 
he  became  so  absorbed  in  his  mournful  reflections  that  he 
dropped  the  reins  upon  his  horse's  neck  and  allowed  him 
to  go  whither  he  would.  Ere  long  his  horse  stopped  with 
a  suspicious  snort ;  and,  looking  up,  he  saw  the  blackened 
ruins  of  poor  Grovenor's  house,  and  almost  fancied  he  could 
hear  the  dying  groans  of  his  wife  and  little  ones,  so  dear 
to  his  heart.  "  Here,"  soliloquized  he,  M  is  the  dwelling 
that  was  wrapped  in  devouring  flame  by  the  torch  of 
Chocorua,  and  a  mother  with  her  innocent  babes  was  con- 
sumed by  the  raging  element,  for  the  crime  of  feeding  his 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  323 

hungry  son.  But  the  life  of  the  fell  destroyer  paid  the 
penalty,  though  it  was  but  a  poor  insurance  against  fur- 
ther destruction." 

He  now  passed  on,  encountering  the  remnants  of  herds 
of  cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep  which  had  been  spared  from 
the  barbarity  of  the  savage  foe  ;  and  they,  too,  seemed  to 
share  in  the  general  gloom.  As  he  reached  the  once  joy- 
ous Merry  Meeting  grove  his  heart  beat  faster  and  his 
eyes  were  again  deluged  with  tears.  Every  thing  here 
was  as  he  had  last  seen  it ;  and  he  almost  expected  that  he 
should  find  the  lovely  Forest  Queen  still  crowned  with  a 
wreath  of  flowers  and  sitting  upon  her  sylvan  throne. 
But  the  grove  was  silent  and  lonely,  and  no  mirthful 
voices  broke  the  still  solitude.  The  sylvan  throne  was 
fast  mouldering  in  decay  ;  and  the  May  pole  was  lying  upon 
the  ground,  almost  concealed  from  view  by  matted  vines 
and  creeping  evergreens.  As  he  attempted  to  raise  it 
from  its  mossy  bed  he  started  back  with  a  shudder  and 
dropped  it ;  for  intwined  around  the  slender  shaft  was  a 
monstrous  serpent.  "Alas!"  cried  he,  "in  like  manner 
has  the  fair  Rozella  been  enchained  by  serpents  loathsome 
as  yourself."  Bathing  his  hot  and  fevered  brow  in  the 
cool  waters  of  the  pond,  and  mounting  his  horse,  he  rode 
homewards.  He  returned  by  another  road,  and  soon 
reached  the  grove  where  Whitefield's  voice  was  wont  to 
ring  with  such  matchless  power  and  thrilling  eloquence, 
and  where  he  had  so  often  sat  with  Rozella,  spellbound 
and  entranced  with  the  glowing  fervor  of  his  resistless 
appeals,  and  hung  upon  every  accent  of  that  persua- 
sive tongue  which  sent  forth  tones  of  rich  and  varied 
melody. 

"  Where,"  said  he,  "  i3  now  that  faith  and  hope  which, 
like  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  kept  the  doubting  fast  and  firm 
in  the  belief  that  Heaven  for  our  good  overrules  the  de- 
signs of  men  and  will  keep  safe  and  secure  from  harm 


324  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

whoever  confidently  believes  that  all  things  work  together 
for  his  good  ?  How  often  do  the  good  and  worthy  suffer 
by  the  malicious  plots  of  the  wicked,  who  are,  in  the 
mysterious  dispensation  of  divine  Providence,  allowed 
to  go  on  in  sin  and  iniquity  seemingly  unpunished  !  Even 
a  Whitefield's  voice  could  not  raise  the  drooping  hearts 
and  fallen  hopes  of  lonely  Laconia  noW." 

So  saying  he  pursued  his  way  leisurely  homeward,  re- 
volving in  his  mind  the  inscrutable  plan  of  the  divine 
economy.  It  might  have  been  as  easy  in  earlier  and  more 
primitive  days  to  believe  ;  but  never  was  a  faith  that 
knows  no  faltering  needed  more  than  now.  When  men 
believed  that  this  small  earth  was  the  only  inhabited  world 
that  the  great  Maker  had  spoken  into  existence,  and  was 
all  that  he  had  peopled  and  all  that  he  had  supervised, 
it  was  easy  to  pray,  and  believe  that  he  heard  their 
prayers  and  guided  all  their  affairs.  Then  a  Paul  or  a 
Whitefield  could  preach  in  faith,  and  a  tender  Lydia  or 
Rozella  could  inhale  the  atmosphere  of  the  same  as  easily 
as  common  air.  And,  while  the  true  faith  of  ancient  be- 
lievers was  as  easily  acquired,  it  would  seem  as  if  there 
never  was  a  time  when  the  immortal  mind  had  more  need 
to  live  by  it  than  now,  under  the  accumulated  light  of  ex- 
pansive knowledge  and  science.  Now,  instead  of  the 
earth's  standing  still,  as  was  then  supposed,  it  turns  upon 
its  axis  and  dashes  along  its  orbit  with  such  frightful  ve- 
locity that  the  human  mind  cannot  realize  it  even  when 
the  figures  are  placed  before  our  eyes.  And  instead  of 
the  earth  being  the  only  world  He  created,  and  the  planets 
and  stars  being  mere  lights  for  our  convenience,  it  is  now 
but  a  speck  among  the  dazzling  millions  that  dot  the  im- 
mensity of  space,  all  whirling  along  their  pathway  in  orbits 
so  vast  and  at  distances  so  inconceivably  remote  that  our 
little  orb  dwindles  into  comparative  insignificance. 

There   are  the   Pleiades  and   Hyades,  balancing  wi 


LEGENDS  OF  LACOtflA.  325 

Orion  the  flying  race  of  worlds ;  the  Great  Lion  of  the 
upper  heavens,  reaping  with  his  starry  sickle  the  sheaves 
of  Time  from  the  broad  harvest  field  of  eternity  and  trans- 
porting them  on  wheeling  spheres  of  immeasurable  orbit 
to  their  unknown  inhabitants.  There,  too,  is  Neptune,  so 
far  away  in  the  distant  heavens  that  the  entire  earth's 
orbit,  comprising  the  millions  of  miles  she  travels  from 
farthest  north  to  extremest  south,  does  not  form  a  base 
sufficient  to  measure  the  distant  angle.  And  still  farther 
on  may  be  another  earth  as  far  from  it  as  our  own.  Ah, 
we  need  a  faith  far  stronger  than  was  possessed  by  some 
of  olden  time  to  believe  that  our  own  little  globe  is 
recognized  among  the  myriads  of  larger  orbs.  And  if 
these  men  were  staggered  and  confounded  by  the  com- 
paratively simple  theories  of  their  day,  what,  in  the  in- 
tense blaze  of  science  at  the  present,  must  our  faith  be,  to 
enable  us  to  believe  that  God  watches  over  such  worth- 
less worms  as  we,  and  will  own  and  acknowledge  us  be- 
yond the  stars !  How  strong  a  faith  is  requisite  to  enable 
us  to  lay  hold  on  Heaven  in  perfect  confidence  and  say, 
"  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth  ;  and  though  after  my 
skin  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see 
God"! 

A  few  days  after  the  above  visit  of  Waldron  to  Merry 
Meeting  Bay  the  soldiers  met  at  Dolly's  hut  to  dispose  of 
her  vi  et  armis.  But  Dolly  fastened  the  door  and  en- 
deavored to  frighten  them  away. 

"  It's  of  no  use,"  said  Walcott ;  "  if  you  have  driven  off 
the  attorney  and  the  king's  officer,  you  have  no  power 
over  his  majesty's  soldiers.     It  won't  work." 

"No,"  added  Marine  Lee;  "the  celestial  ship  I  once 
saw  fall  from  the  cloudy  ocean  of  the  skies  goes  down  to- 
day, never  more  to  reappear." 

"One  part  of  that  story  of  the  Phantom  Ship,"  said 
Waldron,  as  he  came  up  with  Coffin  by  his  side,  "  we  havo 
28 


326  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

always  doubted  somewhat,  and  we  have  just  been  discuss- 
ing its  probability.  We  can  hardly  believe  she  ever 
sailed  in  the  golden  sea  of  purity  and  was  wafted  by 
heavenly  breezes,  as  you  stated.  And,  allowing  that  such 
had  been  the  case,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  know  how  you,  a 
stranger  in  Laconia,  should  be  conversant  with  the  fact." 

"I  supposed,"  replied  Lee,  "that  point  would  be  ques- 
tioned long  before  now  ;  but  it  seems  you  were  too  much 
interested  in  the  marvellousness  of  the  story  to  ask  for 
proof  of  its  truth.  Now,  'tis  but  a  short  story  ;  and  I  can 
tell  it  by  the  time  Dolly  opens  the  door." 

"  No  doubt  of  that,"  said  Coffin,  laughing,  "  if  you  finish 
it  between  now  and  winter." 

"  Let  us  have  the  story,"  responded  the  company. 

"  You  must  be  short,"  added  the  captain  ;  "  for  we  must 
finish  our  business  as  soon  as  possible." 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  cried  Marine,  and  continued:  "Be  it 
known,  then,  that  I  was  somewhat  acquainted  with' Dolly 
Plot  in  England,  and  saw  her  frequently.  I  am  ready  to 
acknowledge  that  the  society  in  which  she  moved  was  far 
above  my  own ;  and,  therefore,  I  knew  her  much  better 
than  she  knew  me.  I  have  frequently  driven  her  carriage 
to  some  of  the  first  families  of  Old  Cambridge,  where  she 
was  received  as  one  of  their  equals,  and  have  often  seen 
her  waited  upon  to  it  by  some  of  the  proudest  peers  and 
lords  of  the  realm.  A  gentleman  .of  high  rank,  to  whom 
she  seemed  much  attached,  lost  his  wife  by  a  sudden  and 
short  illness,  and  it  was  suspected  that  she  had  been  poi- 
soned. After  her  death  her  stomach  was  examined,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  arsenic  discovered  therein.  It  was  sub- 
sequently ascertained  that  Miss  Dolly  Plot  had  taken  a 
walk  with  the  deceased  on  the  day  of  her  death,  in  the 
course  of  which  they  called  at  a  place  of  refreshment  and 
partook  of  a  cup  of  coffee  and  a  hot  bunn,  and  the  lady 
was  taken  violently  ill  soon  afterwards.     It  was,  more- 


I 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  327 

over,  found  that  Dolly  had  purchased  arsenic  at  an  apothe- 
cary's but  a  few  days  previous.  These  reports,  coining  to 
the  ears  of  Dolly,  caused  her  to  leave  before  a  legal  in- 
vestigation could  be  had.  She  took  lodgings  in  one  of 
the  most  dark  and  obscure  streets  in  London  ;  but,  finding 
the  officers  of  justice  were  in  pursuit  of  her,  she  soon  left 
the  country  ;  and  no  one  knew  of  her  whereabouts  until  I 
saw  and  recognized  her  a  few  days  after  my  arrival  in 
Laconia.  As  most  of  the  parties  were  dead  and  the  whole 
matter  nearly  forgotten,  I  knew  it  would  be  impossible  to 
prove  her  guilt,  and  therefore  did  not  inform  against  her. 
Now,  gentlemen,  what  shall  be  done  with  Dolly  Plot." 

"  Hang  her ! "  shouted  the  soldiers.  "  Let  the  old  mud- 
scow  go  to  the  bottom,  never  to  rise  again !  " 

"But,"  continued  Lee,  "I  have  a  plan  by  which  we  can 
get  rid  of  her  without  shedding  her  blood,  although  I 
don't  think  hanging  any  too  good  for  her." 

"  Give  us  the  plan,  then,"  responded  the  soldiers. 

"  It  h  this,"  answered  Lee  ;  "  that,  as  she  has  once  been 
sentenced  to  be  confined  on  one  of  the  islands  of  Winni- 
piseogee,  she  shall  now  be  taken  to  one  of  them  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  lake,  on  which  is  an  old  fishing  camp,  and  sup- 
plied with  fishing  tackle  as  a  means  of  subsistence  ;  and  if 
she  ever  leaves  it  she  shall  be  shot  as  an  outlaw.  And  as  a 
proof  that  we  mean  what  we  say  on  this  last  point,  let  the 
fate  of  the  outlaw  Dick  Janus,  who  was  yesterday  shot 
dead  by  a  settler  whose  name  we  have  not  yet*  learned,  be 
art  assurance  and  a  warning  to  all  evil  doers  so  long  as 
the  mountain  from  which  he  was  tumbled  shall  stand  and 
bear  the  name  of  '  Tumble-down  Dick/  which  we  this  day 
gave  it." 

Dolly,  who  from  the  open  window  had  listened  atten- 
tively to  Lee's  narrative,  gave  a  most  awful  screech  when 
she  heard  the  announcement  of  the  death  of  her  friend 
Janus,  and  wept  and  wailed  long  and  loudly.    She  de- 


328  LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA. 

clared  that  she  would  rather  a  thousand  times  be  shot  out- 
right than  banished  to  that  lonely  island  ;  but  the  soldiers 
drowned  her  waitings  by  crying,  "  Away  with  her  to  the 
island !  "  and  then  proceeded  to  burst  through  the  door. 
Dolly  stoutly  resisted  and  fought  most  resolutely,  and 
Mag  came  to  the  rescue  bravely  ;  but  all  to  no  purpose. 
Dolly  was  seized,  secured,  and  with  her  effects  carried  in 
a  cart  to  the  lake,  and  thence  rowed  to  one  of  the  middle 
islands,  where  she  reigned  and  ruled  queen  of  the  island 
and  mistress  of  the  lake.  Mag,  against  whom  there  were 
no  very  grave  charges,  was  allowed  to  pack  her  bundle, 
and  commanded  to  leave  their  borders  in  twenty-four 
hours ;  which  she  did,  and  never  again  made  her  appear- 
ance. The  soldiers,  however,  did  not  leave  the  old  hut, 
which  had  so  long  been  the  haunt  of  all  the  evil-disposed 
persons  in  the  settlement,  without  kindling  a  good  fire  in 
the  middle  of  the  floor  ;  and  when  they  marched  away  the 
thick  volumes  of  smoke  and  the  flashing  tongues  of  flame 
which  rose  from  the  spot  announced  that  the  building  was 
fast  crumbling  to  ashes  and  the  whole  place  being  purified 
by  fire. 

The  other  stranger  who,  it  will  be  recollected,  on  the 
night  of  Waldron  and  Walcott's  return  came  forward  to 
throw  light  on  the  loving  couples  in  the  entry,  and  who 
appeared  to  be  a  beautiful  and  superior  woman,  could  not 
be  found.  She  had  been  the  theme  of  all  who  saw  her ; 
for  so  innocent  was  her  mien  and  so  surprised  her  air  as 
she  gazed  upon  the  tumult  of  that  eventful  evening,  that 
they  concluded  she  must  have  fallen  into  that  den  of  de- 
pravity by  some  mistake,  and  was  unaware  of  the  profes- 
sion of  its  inmates.  She  had  made  a  deep  impression  and 
left  a  lasting  mark  upon  the  minds  of  all ;  and  not  upon 
the  mind  only,  but  upon  the  heart,  of  one  who  had  hereto- 
fore bade  defiance  to  all  the  enticing  charms  and  wily 
ways  of  woman.     That  one  was  no  other  than  the  brave 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  329 

Lieutenant  Grizzly  Gridley,  who,  ever  since  that  fatal 
night  when  he  first  saw  her,  had  been  haunted  by  visions 
of  that  sweet  face,  both  in  his  sleeping  and  waking  hours, 
in  his  goings  out  and  comings  in.  He  had  even  gone  so 
far  as  to  visit  Dolly  Plot  to  gain  information  of  her 
whereabouts,  who,  after  taking  his  gold,  quietly  replied 
that  she  neither  knew  nor  could  tell  where  she  was  to  be 
found.  She  said  she  had  never  seen  her  before  that  night, 
when  she  came  in  very  much  fatigued,  and  wished  to  re- 
main for  the  night ;  that  she  had  given  her  leave  to  do 
so,  and  she  had  not  seen  her  since. 

Sorely  did  Gridley  grieve  over  his  unsuccessful  seaich 
for  the  fair  stranger  who  had  made  so  deep  an  impression 
upon  his  hitherto  obdurate  heart ;  and  although  some  of  his 
friends  endeavored  to  weaken  the  ardor  of  his  attachment 
by  suggesting  that  the  fact  of  her  being  with  such  asso- 
ciates was  against  her,  Gridley's  faith  in  her  purity  and 
goodness  remained  unshaken  ;  and  he  was  satisfied  that  in 
this  case  at  least,  although  she  was  found  in  bad  company, 
she  was  entirely  beyond  suspicion. 
28  * 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 


Soldiers  meet  for  a  new  Expedition  at  Buck's  Horn  Inn.  —  Arrival 
of  Comical  Plump  and  George  English.  — The  Departure. 


It  was  a  foggy  morning,  about  the  1st  of  September, 
when  the  soldiers  of  Laconia  were  seen  to  leave  their 
homes,  with  their  stuffed  knapsacks  upon  their  backs  and 
guns  upon  their  shoulders,  and  shape  their  course  for  the 
Buck's  Horn  Inn.  The  morning  was  not  only  foggy,  but 
dark  and  somewhat  drizzly,  and  the  mountains  were  con- 
cealed from  view  as  well  as  the  sun.  The  tall  grass  still 
uncropped  by  the  roadside  stood  bending  beneath  the 
load  of  accumulated  moisture,  with  its  seeded  head  bowed 
down  as  if  in  sympathy  with  the  sorrowing  inhabitants 
of  the  settlement,  while  pearly  teardrops  ran  down  its 
bearded  face.  The  seared  and  hardened  leaves,  humid 
with  fog  and  mist,  adhered  to  the  soldier's  foot  as  he  hur- 
ried through  the  pathless  forest  and  down  the  precipitous 
hills.  The  crow,  clad  in  his  blue-black  dreadnaught, 
stalked  gravely  over  the  stubble  of  the  cleared  fields,  or 
sent  up  his  hoarse  caw  as  he  flapped  his  broad  wings  over 
the  slimy  pool  in  search  of  some  sedentary  frog,  who  in 
his  turn  konked  his  "  No  you  don't,"  as  he  shot  like  a  wedge 
into  the  muddy  bottom.  The  soldiers  hurried  on,  regard- 
less of  mist,  fog,  or  rain  ;  and  by  eight  o'clock  every  vol- 
unteer had  arrived  at  the  rendezvous,  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn. 

(330) 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  331 

While  the  soldiers  were  assembling,  Captain  Waldron, 
who  had  been  the  first  to  reach  the  inn,  had  remained 
seated  in  the  Dutchman's  dining  room,  apparently  ab- 
sorbed in  gloomy  contemplations.  He  first  balanced  the 
chances  for  and  against  the  success  of  the  expedition  and 
the  probabilities  of  his  being  able  to  recapture  his  idolized 
Rozella. 

"  True,"  soliloquized  he,  "  we  have  conquered  Louisburg  ; 
but  none  of  the  king's  officers  or  soldiers  have  been  suc- 
cessful against  the  French  at  the  west  or  in  the  Canadas. 
The  brave  Colonel  Meserve  has  been  taken  prisoner  ;  and 
the  heroic  New  Hampshire  soldiers  not  only  taken,  but 
many  of  them  brutally  murdered.  The  gallant  Colonel 
Munroe  of  the  thirty-fifth  British  regiment  was  over- 
whelmed at  Fort  William  Henry,  and  most  of  his  soldiers 
barbarously  slaughtered  by  the  Indians  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  whose  combined 
forces  of  French  and  Indians  we  must  meet  and  conquer 
ere  we  can  proceed  to  the  enterprise  for  which  we  are 
assembled.  Lord  Howe  and  Braddock,  the  two  brightest 
stars  in  the  military  galaxy  of  England,  have  fallen  ;  and 
in  all  directions  misfortune  seems  to  attend  us.'ir 

So  saying  Waldron  arose,  and,  putting  his  hand  to  his 
brow,  stood  for  some  time  mute  and  motionless.  "  Fallen  ! 
fallen !  "  again  pursued  he  ;  "  '  how  have  the  mighty  fallen  ! ' 
and,  as  nearly  as  I  can  foresee,  our  fate  will  be  the**same. 
Well,  let  us  fall,  then,  if  we  must.  Our  blood  is  no  better 
than  that  of  Howe,  Braddock,  Meserve,  and  thousands  of 
others  who  have  been  led  on  to  butchery  against  the  French." 

"  And  Rozella,  —  what  of  her  ?  "  cried  a  deep  voice  at  his 
side  as  a  heavy  hand  fell  upon  his  shoulder. 

"Shall  be  free!"  shouted  Waldron,  grasping  fiercely  the 
hilt  of  his  sword,  as,  looking  up,  he  saw  Gridley  and  Wal- 
cott  by  his  side,  "  or  Britton  Waldron  will  sleep  the  sleep 
of  death  with  a  smile  upon  his  lips  by  her  side." 


332  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

"  Elsie  Tufton,  too,"  cried  Ensign  Walcott,  "  shall  be 
free,  or  I  sleep  the  same  sleep  by  your  side." 

"  And  0,"  exclaimed  Lieutenant  G-ridley,  "  the  fair 
stranger,  whose  lovely  image  haunts  me  ever,  shall  be 
found,  or  I,  too,  shall  fall  in  the  cold  embrace  of  death." 

"  Hurrah ! "  shouted  a  sharp  voice  ;  "  two  officers  in  love 
with  ghosts,  and  t'other  with  a  shadow." 

A  general  roar  now  rang  through  the  old  inn,  and  all 
looked  in  the  direction  whence  the  sound  proceeded.  There 
stood  a  little  plump  soldier,  whom  Nature  had  stamped 
from  head  to  foot  with  her  most  grotesque  and  comical 
expression.  He  was  about  five  feet  in  height,  crosseyed, 
with  his  face  and  hands  covered  with  freckles ;  and  what 
little  hair  he  had  was  nearty  white. 

The  captain  now  gave  orders  to  the  sergeant  to  parade 
the  company ;  which  order  was  immediately  obeyed,  and 
the  officers  notified  that  the  order  had  been  complied  with, 
who  thereupon  walked  out  and  took  their  positions.  The 
soldiers  were  still  laughing  at  Comical  Plump,  as  they  had 
nicknamed  the  little  soldier  we  have  just  described,  who 
now  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  company  with  a  huge  knap- 
sack, which  fell  almost  to  his  knees  and  projected  several 
inches  above  his  old  white  wool  hat,  on  his  back,  and  an 
old  queen's  arms  upon  his  shoulder.  Some  of  the  soldiers 
objected  to  Plump's  joining  the  volunteers  on  account  of 
his  youth,  and  said  that  his  mother  would  be  on  after  him 
before  they  had  marched  a  mile.  Comical  then  told  them 
plumply  that  he  was  probably  older  than  they  took  him 
to  be,  and  that  his  old  gun  would  throw  buck  shot  as 
straight  as  any  of  their  guns.  But  the  soldiers,  who  were 
mostly  tall  and  noble-looking  men  and  prided  themselves 
upon  the  good  appearance  of  their  regiment,  now  seriously 
objected  to  the  enrolment  of  the  little  soldier  ;  and,  on  the 
question  being  put  to  vote,  it  was  almost  unanimously  de- 
cided that  Comical  Plump  have  leave  to  stay  at  home. 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.    *  333 

Thereupon  the  poor  little  fellow  sneaked  across  the  road, 
looking  quite  crestfallen  and  dejected,  and,  seating  himself 
upon  a  large  rock,  began  to  weep  bitterly.  The  boys 
gathered  around  him  and  heard  him  say, "  I'll  be  revenged  ! 
I'll  join  the  French  ! "  and  after  pausing  a  few  minutes,  as 
if  reflecting,  he  continued,  "  No,  I  won't  do  that ;  I'll  do 
good  for  evil." 

The  soldiers,  who  thought  it  of  small  consequence 
whether  he  went  or  not,  and,  moreover,  thought  they  were 
really  showing  him  an  act  of  kindness  by  refusing  what 
they  considered  his  absurd  request,  soon  forgot  the  matter  ; 
and  the  more  easily,  perhaps,  by  reason  of  what  now  fol- 
lowed ;  for  at  the  command  of  the  captain  the  ensign 
raised  aloft  the  still  furled  flag,  and  the  captain  advanced 
to  the  front  and  exclaimed,  "  Gentlemen  soldiers,  I  am  re- 
joiced to  see  you  all  so  prompt  at  your  posts  and  in  such 
good  spirits  on  this  our  important  enterprise  ;  and  although 
it  is  a  dark  and  gloomy  morning,  yet  I  trust  that  soon,  not 
only  the  sun,  but  heaven,  will  smile  upon  this  expedition." 
As  he  closed,  the  banner,  the  same  old  precious  banner 
presented  by  Rozella,  unrolled  its  silken  folds,  and  at  the 
same  instant  the  sun  burst  through  the  misty  fog  and 
shone  out  in  all  his  glory.  Long  and  repeated  cheers 
broke  from  the  throats  of  the  Mountain  Rangers ;  and  as 
they  ceased  the  quick  gallop  of  a  horse's  feet  was  heard 
pattering  along  the  muddy  valley  road,  and  all  eyes  were 
instantly  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  sound. 

An  elegantly  formed  soldier  in  a  blue  uniform,  with  a  gun 
lashed  behind  his  saddle,  was  seen  upon  a  large  bay  horse, 
dashing  furiously  towards  them.  He  had  the  air  of  an 
English  officer  ;  and  as  he  reined  up  in  front  of  the  com- 
pany his  horse  seemed  nearly  blown  with  hard  riding,  and 
the  sweat,  as  it  streamed  from  his  panting  sides,  mingled 
with  the  blood   of  his  deeply-rowelled   flanks.     As   the 


334  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

soldier  stopped  he  exclaimed,  "  I  would  see  Captain  Wal- 
dron,  of  the  Mountain  Rangers  of  Laconia." 

The  captain  took  off  his  cocked  hat,  and,  bowing  low, 
replied,  "  I  have  the  pleasure,  sir,  to  be  at  your  service." 

The  stranger  raised  his  military  cap  in  return,  and, 
bowing  until  his  black,  curling  locks  rested  upon  his  horse's 
mane,  continued,  "  I  am  the  king's  messenger." 

"I  await  your  message,"  replied •  Waldron,  somewhat 
excited. 

The  messenger  again  bowed  with  a  bright  smile,  and 
said,  "  Good  news ! " 

A  loud  cheer  now  broke  from  the  excited  soldiers,  who 
had  feared  he  was  the  bearer  of  disastrous  tidings ;  and 
the  stranger  continued  :  "  Be  it  known,  then,  that  at  the 
treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  England  declared  a  peace  when 
there  was  none,  and  gave  up  by  that  treaty  the  Island  of 
Cape  Breton  —  that  Cape  Breton  which  was  won  by  the 
valor  of  the  Americans  generally,  and  of  the  Mountain 
Rangers  of  Laconia  particularly ;  for  without  them  it 
could  never  have  been  taken  ;  but,  notwithstanding,  it 
has  been  given  up." 

"  Shame !   shame  !  "  cried  the  soldiers. 

"  Furthermore,"  continued  he,  "  it  is  well  known  in  En$ 
land  that  all  the  battles  which  have  as  yet  been  fougl 
upon  American  soil  have  proved  disastrous  to  her,  anc 
have  resulted  in  favor  of  France  ;  and  it  is  generally  b( 
lieved  that  it  is  all  owing  to  the  mismanagement  or  imb( 
cirity  of  the  old  class  of  officers,  like  Generals  Johnsoi 
and  Shirley  and  Colonel  Munroe,  that  all  these  disasters 
have  befallen  our  common  cause.     In  consequence  of  such 
an  unbroken  series  of  disasters,  the  people  of  England  grew 
indignant  and  demanded  a  new  ministry.     That  demand, 
gentlemen,  has  been  acceded  to  ;  and  now  at  the  head  of 
that  ministry  stands  no  other  name  than  that  of  the  great 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  335 

statesman,  William  Pitt,  Earl  of  Chatham.  One  of  the 
first  acts  of  his  ministry  has  been  to  present  a  long  list  of 
old  and  inactive  lieutenant  and  major  generals  to  be  re- 
moved :  and  he  has  promoted  to  important  posts  young  and 
meritorious  officers,  among  whom  are  Wolfe,  Amherst, 
Monkton,  Murray,  and  Prideaux.  He  has  already  marked 
out  a  plan  for  this  campaign  in  which  the  Mountain 
Rangers  are  now  enlisted.  Three  armies  are  now  raised 
and  marching  to  the  field  under  his  directions,  and  are  to 
attack  the  French  simultaneously  at  their  three  strongest 
posts.  Prideaux,  with  the  provincial  forces  and  the  war- 
like Iroquois,  are  to  attack  Niagara,  and  then  descend  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  take  Montreal.  The  brave  Wolfe  is  to 
go  by  the  way  of  Cape  Breton,  ascend  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  attack  Quebec.  And  Amherst,  whose  army  of  twelve 
thousand  men  the  Mountain  Rangers  are  to  join  at  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point,  having  taken  these  fortresses,  is 
to  enter  the  St.  Lawrence  by  the  River  Sorel  and  join  the 
army  at  Quebec  under  the  brave  Wolfe.  A  brother  of  the 
lamented  Captain  Lovewell  of  the  Paugus  fight  will  take  the 
command  of  a  thousand  men  from  New  Hampshire,  which 
force  you  are  requested  to  join  at  Number  Four  and  march 
to  Ticonderoga  under  his  command.  And  although  my 
message  is  from  the  king,  through  his  prime  minister,  to 
General  Amherst,  the  commander  of  a  portion  of  his 
majesty's  forces  as  well  as  the  militia  of  New  Hampshire, 
yet  I  am  but  a  private  individual,  doing  what  I  could  to 
forward  the  expedition,  and  have  been  honored  by  being 
appointed  bearer  of  these  despatches.  But,  gentlemen, 
my  mission  is  now  finished  ;  and,  as  I  am  anxious  to  join  the 
army,  I  now  offer  myself  as  a  rank  and  file  soldier  to  the 
Mountain  Rangers,  than  which  no  company  will  march  to 
the  scene  of  action  whose  ranks  I  would  sooner  join." 

A  general  response  of  hearty  welcome  resounded  from 
the  entire  company ;  and  Captain  Waldron  stepped  for- 


336  LEGENDS   OF   LACONlA. 

ward  and  gave  the  young  soldier  his  hand  and  a  cordiai 
welcome. 

"  I  will  resign  my  commission,"  enthusiastically  cried 
Lieutenant  Gridley,  "  in  favor  of  the  young  hero." 

"  And  so  will  I,"  said  Ensign  Walcott. 

"  No,  gentlemen,"  responded  the  stranger  ;  "  I  shall  not 
accept  any  commission  ;  still  I  thank  you  a  thousand 
times  for  your  generous  offers.  The  only  name  and  title 
I  shall  consent  to  bear  is  that  by  which  I  am  now  desig- 
nated —  George  English.  But  I  will  ask  as  a  favor  that 
I  may  be  allowed  to  take  along  my  faithful  horse,  for  my 
own  convenience  and  that  of  any  of  my  companions  who 
may  choose  to  ride  in  turn." 

A  unanimous  consent  was  given,  the  fife  and  drum 
struck  up,  and  the  gallant  band  of  Mountain  Rangers 
took  their  departure  from  the  borders  of  Laconia. 

"  They  have  all  gone,"  soliloquized  little  Comical  Plump, 
as  he  wiped  the  tears  from  his  eyes  with  the  back  of  his 
freckled,  fat  hand  ;  then,  standing  up,  he  looked  at  him- 
self as  if  he,  too,  was  a  new  comer  with  whom  he  was 
just  becoming  acquainted.  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  I  must  con- 
fess I  am  not  so  elegantly  formed  as  that  new  comer  upon 
the  horse  ;  but,  then,  perhaps  George  English  will  prove  a 
traitor  and  destroy  the  whole  company.  I  have  half  a 
mind  to  do  so ;  and  I  think  I  should  were  it  not  for  Ro- 
zella  Langdell,  who  has  ever  been  so  kind  to  our  folks. 
She  always  called  when  any  of  us  were  sick,  and  spoke  so 
pleasantly,  and  did  so  much  to  relieve  us,  that  I  would 
risk  a  thousand  lives  and  let  all  the  French  in  Canada  go 
to  Tophet  to  save  her.  If  Captain  Waldron  had  only 
known  what  good  friends  we  are  he  would  have  taken  me 
along  —  I  know  he  would.  But  I  guess  I  was  wrong  in 
thinking  George  English  might  prove  a  traitor,  now  that  I 
remember  how  his  eyes  looked  ;  for  such  eyes  I  never  before 
saw  in  a  man's  head,  nor  in  a  woman's  either,  except  that 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  337 

of  Rozella  Langdell.  They  were  as  clear  as  a  mountain 
lake,  and  so  deep  too !  Why,  I  felt  when  looking  into 
them  as  I  have  before  now  when  on  a  cloudless  day  I 
have  laid  upon  the  banks  of  the  Coeheco  and  gazed  into 
the  far-off  depths  of  heaven.  There  can  be  no  treachery 
in  such  eyes  as  those.  But,  then,  I  don't  believe  they  are 
any  truer,  after  all,  than  my  old  cross  grays,  or  will  do 
any  better  service.  I  should,  to  be  sure,  prefer  some  like 
his,  so  that  Lieutenant  Gridley  and. Ensign  Walcott  would 
offer  to  resign  their  commissions  for  me  as  I  rode  up  with 
a  message  from  the  king,  and  have  some  other  Comical 
Plump  sit  crying  on  this  stone  because  the  soldiers  voted 
him  out  of  the  company.  But  I  did  not  form  myself,  and 
don't  think  I  ought  to  be  blamed  for  my  looks ;  and  I 
wear  my  cross  eyes  for  the  same  reason  that  I  do  my  old 
white  hat  —  because  I  can't  get  any  better.  But  I  have  a 
good  large  knapsack  full  of  bread  and  cheese  and  powder 
and  shot ;  so  I'll  not  go  home  yet,  any  how.  I  must  sit 
here  a  while  and  study  what  to  do  next ;  for  I  want  Rozel- 
la  and  the  old  squire's  folks  back  here  as  much  as  any  of 
them,  I  can  tell  them.  If  they  can  see  straighter,  they 
can't  see  any  farther,  than  I  can.  Now,  Plump  is  captain 
of  his  own  company  ;  and  when  I,  Comical,  have  studied 
out  a  plan,  I  will  report  to  head  quarters  ;  so  take  a  seat, 
captain,  and  I  will  report  soon." 

And  down  he  sat  again  upon  the  stone,  the  tears  still 
standing  in  his  eyes  and  his  face  still  sad  and  melancholy. 
But  wipe  away  your  tears,  my  good  Comical ;  you  will 
give  a  good  report  of  yourself  yet. 
29 


CHAPTER    XXXIV 


Capture  op  the  Langdells  and  Tuftons.  —  Description  of  the 
Mountain  Passes  and  Scenery. — Burning  of  Grovenor.  —  Arri- 
val at  St.  Francis.  —  Stark  and  Eastman  run  the  Gantlet. 


How  frequently  it  occurs  in  this  strange  life  of  mingled 
gloom  and  sunshine  that  our  heaviest  woes  lie  nearest  us 
when  all  seems  glad  and  gay,  and  our  sweetest  joys  are 
close  behind  the  clouds  of  darkest  obscurity  !  And  often, 
when  passion  seems  not  only  conquered  but  chained  be- 
neath our  feet,  some  sudden  temptation  snaps  the  chain 
asunder,  and  the  foe  rises  to  the  assault  more  fierce  and 
formidable  than  before.  The  oars  of  our  determination 
are  powerless  when  dipped  in  the  bright  waters  of  our 
hopes  ever  so  expertly  unless  Heaven  swells  the  sail  and 
speeds  our  frail  bark  over  life's  treacherous  waters  to  the 
haven  of  our  rest. 

When  Paugus  and  Chocorua  had  fallen,  Rozella  and 
her  parents,  as  well  as  their  neighbors,  supposed  their  last 
foe  was  destroyed  ;  and  Squire  Langdell,  thinking  the  In- 
dian wars  now  at  an  end,  had  sent  to  England  for  his 
other  daughter,  who  had  remained  with  her  uncle  to  com- 
plete her  education.  The  prospects  for  peace  and  domestic 
tranquillity,  so  far  as  they  could  discern,  were  never  so 
bright  and  flattering  ;  but,  beyond  their  ken,  never  were 
they  darker  or  more  gloomy.  The  happiest  evening  they 
bad  ever  passed  in  social  enjoyment  was  spent  under  the 

(338) 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  '  339 

very  eye  and  almost  within  arms'  length  of  savage  foes, 
ready  to  leap  upon  and  devour  their  unsuspecting  prey  ;  and 
as  the  little  cloud  of  mystery  which  had  rested  upon  the  en- 
chanted wolf  had  passed  away,  another  and  more  threat- 
ening cloud,  black  with  sorrow  and  surcharged  with  death, 
hung  over  and  lowered  low  above  their  devoted  heads. 

The  Indians  who  had  been  guided  through  the  forest3 
and  mountain  passes  by  Jack  Taurus  were  mostly  from 
the  Nepissins  and  Apenaquis,  who  were  still  under  the  St. 
Francis  tribe.  The  chief  of  the  band  was  a  St.  Francis 
Indian  named  Titigaw,  under  whom  was  another  chief 
called  Peeroon.  The  Indians  had  arrived  the  evening  pre- 
vious to  the  "  wolf  party/'  and  had  lain  concealed  in  the 
adjacent  woods  near  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell,  and 
had  thus  been  able  to  watch  narrowly  all  the  movements 
of  their  unsuspecting  victims.  When  all  were  assembled 
at  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell,  they  had  entered  the 
now  vacant  houses  of  the  neighboring  settlers,  and,  taking 
such  articles  of  food  and  clothing  as  they  wished,  bound 
them  upon  the  horses  which  they  had  taken  from  the  barns, 
which  they  then  led  and  fastened  near  to  the  squire's 
house,  so  as  to  be  ready  for  an  immediate  departure.  The 
horses  that  had  been  ridden  by  the  settlers  to  the  "  gath- 
ering" were  destined  for  the  female  captives  ;  for  the 
journey  was  long,  and  the  bounty  offered  by  the  French 
governor  of  Canada  for  live  prisoners  large  and  tempt- 
ing. Among  those  who  were  carried  away  captives  were 
Squire  and  Mrs.  Langdell,  Rozella  and  the  Tuftons,  Owega 
and  several  others. 

Among  those  who  were  slain  when  the  savages  rushed 
into  the  house  were  Bragg  Pike  and  Deacon  Stone,  who, 
it  will  be  recollected,  boasted  during  the  evening  of  their 
prowess  in  shooting  Chocorua  ;  and  the  others  they  bound 
with  cords,  among  whom  was  Captain  Grovenor,  whom 
they  reserved  for  a  more  terrible  death.     In  their  haste 


340  •  LEGENDS   OP    LACONIA. 

to  leave,  the  Indians  had  allowed  the  females  but  a  few 
moments  in  which  to  gather  up  such  articles  of  wearing 
apparel  as  came  readiest  to  hand,  without  much  regard  to 
comfort  or  convenience. 

Owega  had  caught  up  her  wolfskin  to  take  it  along 
with  her  ;  but  Peeroon,  who  was  originally  from  the  same 
tribe  as  herself,  seeing  her  intention,  assured  her  that  it 
would  be  of  no  use,  for  her  trick  had  been  discovered  and 
the  charm  was  now  gone.  Owega  threw  it  down  ;  but,  as 
the  Indian  turned  his  back,  she  caught  it  up  again,  and, 
quick  as  thought,  placed  it  at  the  bottom  of  her  little 
bundle. 

The  route  taken  by  the  Indians  led  directly  to  Fort 
Point  at  Merry  Meeting  Bay,  which  place  they  reached  a 
little  after  sunrise  the  following  morning.  After  a  light 
breakfast  in  the  old  camp  of  Captain  Lovewell,  which  was 
still  standing,  they  took  the  war  path  of  the  Pequawketts, 
leading  up  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  and 
marched  hurriedly  on.  Yet  so  slow  was  their  progress 
that  they  had  but  reached  the  Wolfs  Neck  when  night 
overtook  the  sad  and  wearied  cavalcade.  The  captives 
were  obliged  to  sleep  upon  the  bare  ground  as  best  they 
could,  for  a  sudden  thaw  had  carried  off  the  entire  body 
of  snow  ;  while  the  Indians  made  use  of  the  blankets  they 
had  taken  from  the  vacant  houses  of  their  captives.  Ro- 
zella  and  Elsie  were  sitting  by  the  camp  lire,  when,  for  the 
first  time  since  they  started,  the  former  caught  sight  of 
Taurus,  who  now  made  his  appearance  at  the  fire,  giving 
her  one  of  his  most  malicious  looks  as  he  glared  into  her 
calm  though  sorrowful  face.  She  screamed  at  his  sudden 
appearance  as  though  a  ferocious  tiger  had  leaped  down 
before  her,  and  averted  her  face  from  the  glare  of  the 
monster,  while  the  Indians  as  well  as  the  captives  sprang 
forward  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  her  sudden  outcry.  Old 
Titigaw,  with  a  wise  look  peculiar  to  "  great  medicine  " 


LEGENDS   OF    LACONIA.  341 

men,  declared  that  the  handsome  white  squaw  was  sick 
and  needed  medicine  ;  but  Owega  explained  to  him  how 
Taurus  had  persecuted  and  wronged  Rozella,  and  was  the 
executor  of  all  the  plans  and  plots  that  had  been  laid  for 
her  destruction,  and  added  that  his  removal  from  her  sight 
would  at  once  restore  her  to  health. 

"  Ugh  !"  grunted  the  old  chief.  "  Young  squaw  heart- 
sick ?  " 

"No  doubt,"  replied  Owega,  "that  she  is  heartsick  of 
seeing  so  vile  a  creature  as  he  is  ;  and  she  demands  that 
he  be  removed  from  the  lodge." 

"  What  right  has  white  squaw  to  make  such  a  demand  ?  " 
asked  the  chief. 

"  As  prisoners  of  war  we  have  certain  rights,"  replied 
Rozella  ;  "  and  those  rights  we  shall  expect  and  demand 
even" from  savages." 

"  And  you  may  demand  them,"  returned  the  gruff  voice 
of  Taurus  ;  "  but  it  will  be  a  long  while  before  your  de- 
mand is  obeyed." 

Rozella  made  no  reply. 

"  The  sensitive  young  lady  cannot  speak  to  her  future 
husband  —  eh  ?  "  continued  Taurus. 

u  My  future  murderer !  "  indignantly  responded  Rozella. 

"  Ay,"  replied  Taurus,  "  even  so,  unless  she  yields  to 
my  wishes  and  becomes  my  wife." 

"  And  that/'  replied  Rozella,  "  will  never  be.  All  the  in- 
famous arts  which  your  venomous  heart  can  conjure,  aided 
by  the  subtlety  of  that  old  serpent  Dolly  Plot  herself, 
will  never  sink  me  so  low  as  that." 

"  The  Forest  Queen,"  resumed  Taurus 

"  Don't  call  me  Forest  Queen,"  interrupted  Rozella,  "  or 
take  a  name  I  shall  ever  cherish  upon  your  lips." 

"  Aha !  "  sneered  Taurus.  "  And  did  I  not  assist  in  giving 
you  that  name?  and  was  it  not  my  hand  that  helped  to 
place  the  flowery  coronal  upon  your  youthful  brow?" 
29* 


342  LEGENDS  OF  LA.CONIA. 

"  And  was  not  Satan  once  an  angel  of  light  and  Dolly 
Plot  an  angel  of  attraction?  "  asked  Rozella. 

"All  that  may  be,"  answered  Taurus  ;  "  but  it  does  not 
apply  to  me  ;  for  my  purpose  was  fixed  and  the  same  from 
the  outset.  From  the  first  hour  I  saw  you,  even  when  I 
placed  the  floral  crown  upon  your  brow,  I  resolved  to 
make  you  my  wife,  and  from  that  day  to  this  my  only 
study  has  been  to  this  end ;  and  at  last  I  have  got  you 
firmly  and  fully  in  my  power,  whence  you  will  never  de- 
part except  as  my  wedded  wife.  There  are  no  bog  holes 
for  me  to  run  into  in  these  woods  ;  and,  if  there  were, 
there  is  no  Wenane  to  assist  in  my  fall.  That  foot  is 
where  it  won't  assist  you  more." 

"And  I,"  retorted  Rozella,  "have  cause  to  wish  that 
your  own  had  been  as  cold  as  that  of  the  faithful  Wenane 
long  ago." 

"  But  it  is  not,"  said  Taurus,  "  but  has  full  power  to 
carry  you  to  your  grave  ;  for,  by  the  terms  of  my  con- 
tract with  the  Indians,  I  have  the  power  to  take  you  and 
your  parents  back  to  your  home  in  case  you  consent  to 
become  my  wife." 

"  Never !  never  ! "  replied  Rozella,  casting  an  affection- 
ate look  upon  her  dear  old  father  and  mother,  who  were 
sitting  in  the  utmost  dejection  by  the  blazing  fire. 

"  No  ! "  exclaimed  both  her  parents  at  the  same  instant, 
while  her  mother  raised  her  eyes  and  her  clasped  hands 
to  heaven  and  continued,  "  No,  never!  Let  us  all  die  to- 
gether first ;  and  may  Heaven  give  the  child  strength  that 
she  be  not  swerved  from  principle  for  our  sakes,  but  may 
her  strength  be  made  sufficient  for  even  this  hour  of  weak- 
ness." 

"  No  !  "  replied  Rozella,  resolutely,  and  casting  so  firm 
and  self-possessed  a  look  upon  the  baffled  Taurus  that  he 
turned,  abashed,  before  her  gaze.  "I  would  rather  be 
stung  to  death  by  scorpions  and  become  the  food  of 
vipers." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  343 

Taurus  thereupon  turned  to  Titigaw  and  muttered  some- 
thing in  a  low  tone  to  the  old  chief,  who  scowled  and  re- 
plied, B  No !  no  ! "  whereupon  Taurus  retreated  to  the  other 
side  of  the  camp  fire,  and,  throwing  his  tall  form  at  full 
length  upon  his  blanket,  was  soon  lost  in  sleep. 

The  other  inmates  of  the  lodge  now  drew  their  blankets 
around  them,  and  in  a  brief  space  all,  both  captors  and 
captives,  were  locked  in  tranquil  repose,  except  Mr.  Tuf- 
ton,who  had  to  relate  for  the  hundredth  time  to  his  daugh- 
ters the  sad  fate  of  their  little  brother,  who  was  carried 
away,  as  he  always  supposed,  when  about  three  years  old, 
and  he  was  still  in  hopes  to  find  him  among  some  of  the 
tribes.  The  night  passed  quietly  ;  and  the  next  morning, 
as  soon  as  the  first  faint  streaks  of  light  appeared  in  the 
east,  the  savages  aroused  their  tired  and  sorrowing  captives. 
After  breakfast,  which  consisted  of  the  meat,  bread,  and  such 
other  provisions  as  they  had  taken  from  the  houses  of  the 
settlers,  and  which  were  carried  by  the  captives,  they  pro- 
ceeded on  their  way  after  the  manner  of  the  day  before 
until  they  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Red  Hill,  when  they 
halted  for  consultation.  They  resolved  to  divide  the 
captives,  lest  they  should  be  overtaken  by  the  settlers,  and 
one  squad,  under  the  guidance  of  Peeroon,  should  proceed 
by  the  way  of  Pequawkett,  while  the  other  should  take 
the  "  middle  route,"  as  it  was  termed,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  old  chief  Titigaw.  The  captives  were  ac- 
cordingly divided  —  the  route  of  Elsie  Tufton,  her  father, 
and  several  others  being  up  the  eastern  passage  by  Pe- 
quawkett, now  Conway  ;  and  Rozella,  together  with  her 
father  and  mother  and  the  two  sisters  of  Elsie,  went  for- 
ward by  the  middle  route. 

The  latter  division  passed  over  the  little  stream  between 
the  beautiful  Winnipiseogee  and  Squam  Lake  and  pro- 
ceeded on  their  toilsome  way  until  they  struck  the  Pemige- 
wasset,  up  whose  banks  they  continued  until  they  arrived 


344  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

at  its  source.  Kozella  occasionally  caught  sight  of  the 
foxskin  cap  of  Taurus  far  in  the  rear,  following  his  prey 
like  a  stanch  bloodhound  ;  but  he  did  not  again  intrude 
himself  upon  her  notice  until  they  had  passed  the  grand 
old  mountains.  The  Indians  of  all  tribes  and  localities 
held  these  mountains  in  the  most  devout  reverence,  and 
never  came  into  their  awful  presence  without  manifesting 
their  sense  of  veneration  by  various  acts  of  worship  and 
adoration.  Nor  is  this  to  be  wondered  at,  since  from  their 
first  discovery  men  of  the  noblest  and  most  cultivated 
intellect  have  never  stood  among  their  wonderful  sublimi- 
ties without  a  feeling  of  inexpressible  awe  nearly  akin  to 
that  of  religious  veneration.  It  was  not  strange,  then, 
that  the  red  man,  as  often  as  he  passed  them,  should  stop 
and  view  with  superstitious  reverence  the  surpassing  gran- 
deurs which  he  every  where  encountered.  Such  was  the 
case  on  the  present  occasion ;  and  when  the  weary  band 
reached  these  Crystal  Hills  both  captors  and  captives 
forgot  for  a  time  their  respective  cares,  so  completely 
rapt  were  they  all,  and  particularly  the  young  ladies,  in 
the  contemplation  of  their  unparalleled  beauty  and  mag- 
nificence. As  they  followed  the  banks  of  the  stream  they 
first  came  to  what  has  since  been  named  the  Flume.  Ro- 
zella,  who,  with  the  two  sisters  of  Elsie,  was  in  advance 
of  the  other  captives,  raised  her  hands  in  delighted  as- 
tonishment, and  with  sparkling  eyes  cried  out,  — 

"  0,  mother  dear,  come  quickly  and  see  this  tremendous 
chasm,  cut  directly  up  into  the  bosom  of  the  mountain, 
with  its  granite  walls  and  mural  precipices  rising  on  each 
side  a  hundred  feet  at  least ! " 

"  Yes,"  responded  Agnes  Tufton  ;  "  and  the  insides  are  as 
regularly  and  truly  cut  in  the  solid  rock  as  if  done  by  the 
chisel  of  some  skilful  workman." 

The  whole  party  now  stopped  and  examined  more 
closely  this  wonderful  natural  curiosity. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  345 

"  How  long,  father,"  asked  Rozella,  "  should  you  think 
this  chasm  to  be  ?  " 

"  I  will  see,"  said  the  squire,  as  he  paced  with  measured 
strides  its  rocky  bottom.     "  It  is  over  eight  hundred  feet." 

All  save  Mrs.  Langdell  now  passed  into  the  Flume  ;  but 
the  mist  and  vapor  that  rose  were  so  damp  and  chill  they 
were  forced  to  retreat,  for  it  seemed  like  a  cold  granite 
grave.     As  they  were  passing  out  the  squire  exclaimed, — 

"  Look  overhead,  young  ladies,  and  see  that  immense 
granite  rock  caught  and  suspended  in  the  very  jaws  of  the 
chasm,  some  seventy  feet,  I  should  judge,  above  our  heads  ! 
That  stone  must  weigh  at  the  least  a  hundred  tons." 

"  But  how,"  asked  Rozella,  "  could  it  have  gotten  there? 
I  think,"  continued  she,  "  some  Titan  must  have  sportingly 
hurled  it  there  from  the  lofty  mountain  peak  yonder. 
How  wildly  solemn  seems  the  roar  of  the  water  as  it 
rushes  through  the  chasm !  " 

They  now  turned  their  attention  to  the  beautiful  cas- 
cade, which  they  had  passed  without  noticing  particularly 
as  they  went  up,  and  Rozella  exclaimed  as  she  met  her 
mother,  who  had  remained  behind,  — 

u  0,  what  a  splendid  cascade!  Never  before  did  I  be- 
hold one  so  enchanting." 

"  I  venture  to  say,"  returned  Mrs.  Langdell,  "  that  it  is 
the  most  beautiful  cascade  in  the  world." 

"  Look,"  cried  Rozella,  "  at  the  difference  in  color  of 
the  water  in  the  chasm  and  the  cascade !  That  in  the  latter 
seems  to  have  been  filtered  and  purified  as  its  silver  glob- 
ules sparkle  in  the  sunbeams,  and  the  rock  over  which  it 
runs  is  polished  as  smooth  as  glass." 

"  How  gradual,  too,"  observed  the  squire,  "  is  its  de- 
scent! I  can  give^a  pretty  close  guess  as  to  the  height 
of  its  fall  as  we  pass  down  to  its  bottom." 

When  they  reached  the  foot  of  the  fall  the  squire  an- 
nounced its  length   to   be   over  six  hundred  feet.     The 


346  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

Indians,  who,  with  the  exception  of  Titigaw  and  one  or  two 
others,  had  never  before  been  in  these  romantic  solitudes, 
seemed  as  much  astonished  and  delighted  as  the  captives 
themselves,  and  wished  to  linger  longer  among  their 
varied  and  picturesque  beauties.  Proceeding  onward,  they 
passed  up  the  stream  until  they  reached  the  Pool,  the 
sight  of  which  drew  from  Rozella  fresh  exclamations  of 
delight. 

"  How  far,"  inquired  she,  "  is  it  from  the  brink  of  the 
towering  walls  to  the  water  below  ?  " 

"Nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  in  my  judgment," 
replied  the  squire  ;  "  and  the  water  must  be  about  fifty 
feet  deep." 

They  next  visited  the  Basin,  which  was  of  smaller 
dimensions,  but  of  equal  beauty.  The  jutting  rocks  which 
formed  the  beautiful  grotto,  and  the  bright,  mackerel 
color  of  the  water,  made  the  tout  ensemble  most  en- 
chanting. The  diameter  of  the  Basin  was  from  thirty  to 
forty  feet,  and  its  circumference  about  sixty.  So  per- 
fectly clear  and  transparent  was  the  water  that  they  could 
discern  the  pebbles  at  the  bottom  quite  plainly  ;  and  on 
the  squire's  asking  Rozella  how  deep  she  thought  the  water 
to  be,  she  replied  that  it  seemed  about  three  or  four  feet 
in  depth. 

"  We  will  measure  its  depth,"  said  the  squire  ;  and 
taking  a  line  from  his  pocket,  to  which  he  attached  a  small 
stone,  threw  it  down  to  the  bottom.  On  drawing  it  up 
again,  they  would  hardly  credit  their  senses  when  they 
found  the  depth,  as  indicated  by  the  wet  line,  to  be  over 
twenty  feet. 

The  old  chief  now  hurried  them  forward,  and  they  soon 
passed  the  great  Notch  and  came  to  $e  Old  Man  of  the 
Mountains,  or  the  Great  Sachem  of  the  Red  Man,  as  the  In- 
dians termed  what  was  an  exact  profile  of  a  human  face  ap- 
parently chiselled  in  the  solid  granite,  and  standing  boldly 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  347 

out  from  the  mountain  cliff  full  two  thousand  feet  above  the 
little  pond  at  its  base.  As  they  came  suddenly  in  view 
of  this  guardian  genius  the  Indians  were  struck  with  such 
reverential  fear  and  dread  that  they  prostrated  them- 
selves upon  the  ground  in  abject  humility  and  bowed  their 
heads  in  the  dust,  so  awestruck  were  they  with  its 
grandeur.  And  the  captives  also  were  affected  with  feel- 
ings similar  in  kind,  though  not  in  degree,  to  those  of  the 
savages,  at  the  unbounded  magnificence  of  the  glorious 
spectacle  before  them. 

"  Since  the  minds  of  the  savage  and  civilized  races  are 
alike  susceptible  to  scenes  of  beauty  and  grandeur,"  ob- 
served Squire  Langdell,  "  why  are  these  races  so  utterly 
unlike  each  other  in  their  treatment  of  those  whom  they 
consider  their  enemies,  especially  when  these  are  in  their 
power  ?  The  English  would  fain  show  themselves  friendly 
to  the  Indians,  but  meet  with  nothing  from  them  but  cru- 
elty, torture,  and  death." 

"  I  cannot  think,"  replied  -Rozella,  "  there  is  so  wide  a 
difference  between  them  ;  for  the  English,  you  must  admit, 
were  the  first  aggressors,  in  taking  the  lands  and  hunt- 
ing grounds  of  the  red  man.  And  as  regards  inhumanity, 
I  have  never  seen  the  difference  of  which  you  speak.  All 
men,  under  the  same  temptations  and  inducements,  are 
equally  frail  and  criminal  and  equally  unjust  and  cruel." 

"  Indeed !"  rejoined  the  squire.  "  Then  your  good  mother 
and  Dolly  Plot  are  upon  the  same  level,  are  they,  so  far 
as  regards  their  liability  to  fall  ?  " 

Rozella  smiled,  and,  pointing  up  to  the  great  granite 
face  in  the  clouds,  playfully  answered,  — 

"  That,  father,  is  not  the  question  before  the  house,  of 
which  that  solemn^ld  man  up  there  seems  to  be  chairman. 
The  question  is  general  or  national,  and  not  individual. 
Of  course  I  would  not  compare  the  Lady  Langdell  with 
Dolly  Plot,  or  Wenane  with  Taurus  ;  but  you  see,  by  the 


348  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

names  I  have  mentioned,  that  some  of  the  English  are  a 
thousand  times  worse  than  some  of  the  Indians." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  squire  ;  "  but,  since  you  make 
the  question  a  national  one,  will  you  please  inform  me 
what  nation  save  the  savages  carries  its  punishment,  or 
its  .tortures  even,  to  such  a  cruel  and  barbarous  excess? 
The  Indian  binds  his  victim  to  the  stake,  tears  out  his 
hair  and  nails,  pulls  out  his  tongue  by  the  roots,  forces 
out  his  eyes,  fills  his  flesh  with  sharp  splinters  of  lighted 
pitchwood,  by  which  he  is  literally  roasted  alive,  and 
winds  up  by  consuming  his  tortured  body  over  a  slow 
fire.  Was  there  ever  any  thing  heard  of  which  could 
equal  this  inhuman  and  fiendish  cruelty  ?  " 

"  It  is  most  dreadful,  certainly,"  replied  Rozella  ;  "  but 
will  my  father  please  consider  for  a  moment  the  punish- 
ments and  tortures  common  among  the  ancient  Romans 
in  the  politest  and  palmiest  days  of  the  empire  ?  They 
sewed  up  the  poor  wretches  on  whom  they  wished  to 
wreak  their  vengeance  in  sacks  along  with  venomous 
serpents,  and  then  threw  them  into  the  sea  to  perish  mis- 
erably. They  broiled  them  in  hot  chains  of  iron  and  fried 
them  in  caldrons  of  boiling  oil ;  they  threw  them  among 
ferocious  and  famished  wild  beasts,  amid  the  applauding 
shouts  of  a  delighted  multitude,  that  they  might  feast  their 
eyes  and  ears  upon  their  dying  agonies  and  groans  ;  and 
when  their  torn  and  mangled  limbs  had  been  severed  from 
their  lacerated  bodies  by  the  cruel  fangs  of  the  lion  or 
tiger,  and  their  heart's  blood  run  away  in  the  awful  strug- 
gle for  life,  they  were  left  to  be  devoured  by  the  beasts 
they  had  fought.  And  what  greater  cruelty  is  there  in 
the  torture  inflicted  by  the  Indians  than  in  the  confining 
of  a  man  in  an  open  trough,  and  smearing  his  naked  body 
with  honey,  that  he  might  be  stung  to  death  by  wasps  and 
bees?  or  in  flaying  him  alive,  and  then  stretching  out 
his  skin  before  his  dying  eyes  ?     And  yet  this  was  the 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  349 

practice  in  the  elegant  court  of  ancient  Prussia.  And  in 
some  European  kingdoms  they  formerly,  and  at  no  very 
distant  day  either,  bound  their  prisoners  on  wheels,  and 
broke  their  bones  one  by  one  with  heavy  iron  bars  or 
hammers  until  death  mercifully  closed  the  scene.  And  I 
forbear,"  added  she,  blushing,  "  to  refer  to  the  tortures  of 
the  inquisition ;  for  they  are  too  familiarly  known  to  re- 
quire recital,  and  are  universally  acknowledged  to  be  the 
very  acme  of  diabolical  ingenuity." 

The  squire  gave  a  nervous  jerk  upon  his  knee  buckles, 
but  said  nothing.  As  the  Indians  had  now  finished  their 
prostrations,  Titigaw  gave  orders  to  advance.  They 
passed  what  is  now  called  the  Franconia  Notch,  fording  the 
little  Pemigewasset,  which  takes  its  rise  within  the  pass 
of  the  mountain,  and,  continuing  along  by  Echo  Pond, 
passed  its  outlet,  which  stream  forms  one  of  the  heads  of 
the  Ammonoosuc.  They  soon  came  to  a  high  ridge  of 
land  now  called  Bethlehem  Heights,  whence  they  had  a 
view  of  the  whole  White  Mountain  chain,  or,  as  the  In- 
dians termed  them,  Agiochook.  Continuing  on,  they  next 
struck  another  of  the  sources  of  the  Ammonoosuc,  which 
comes  down  at  this  place  from  old  Agiochook  ;  and  here 
Titigaw  encamped  to  await,  according  to  previous  agree- 
ment', the  arrival  of  Peeroon,  whose  route  obliged  him  to 
pass  through  the  great  Agiochook  Notch,  while  that  of 
Titigaw  had  been  through  the  Notch  of  the  Great  Sachem 
of  the  red  men.  After  waiting  nearly  a  whole  day,  Peeroon 
and  his  band  arrived  ;  and  greatly  rejoiced  were  the  cap- 
tives to  be  again  permitted  to  look  upon  each  other's 
faces,  although  they  were  nearly  overpowered  by  hunger 
and  fatigue.  The  Indians  now  prepared  a  miserable  meal, 
of  which  they  partook  greedily,  and  gave  a  small  portion 
to  their  captives,  who,  famished  as  they  were,  could  eat 
but  sparingly.  Soon  after  the  meal  was  over  a  council 
of  the  Indians  was  held,  in  which  Taurus  endeavored  to 
30 


350  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

mingle ;  but  to  all  his  propositions  he  only  received  for 
answer  the  gruff  "  No !  "  or  a  surly  shake  of  the  head.  By 
their  violent  gestures  and  excited  air  it  was  evident  that 
some  dreadful  deed  of  cruelty  was  under  discussion ;  and 
by  the  fierce  and  scowling  glances  shot  from  the  fiery  eye- 
balls of  the  savages  at  Captain  Grovenor,  who  had  com- 
manded the  expedition  which  resulted  in  the  death  of 
Chocorua,  it  appeared  that  he  was  to  be  the  victim. 

The  younger  Indians  now  commenced  gathering  brush 
and  dry  wood  and  placing  it  beneath  one  of  the  large 
limbs  of  a  tree  ;  while  Titigaw,  Peeroon,  and  some  others 
began  to  paint  themselves  for  the  coming  deed  of  awful 
vengeance.  At  a  word  from  Titigaw  a  dozen  infuriated 
savages  precipitated  themselves  upon  poor  Grovenor  and 
dragged  him  forward  to  the  fatal  pile.  So  piteous  and 
heartrending  were  his  cries,  and  so  pathetic  his  prayers 
for  mercy  and  for  life,  that  it  seemed  as  if  even  the  heart 
of  the  bloodthirsty  savages  must  be  melted  ;  but  so  far  was 
this  from  being  the  case  that  they  not  only  turned  a  deaf 
ear  to  his  appeals,  but  laughed  at  and  derided  his  bitter 
agonies.  And  one  unacquainted  with  the  history  of 
"man's  inhumanity  to  man"  would  have  been  apt  to  con- 
clude with  Squire  Langdell  that  no  nation  was  so  cruel 
and  bloodthirsty  as  these  howling  savages.  In  spite  of 
all  Grovenor's  piteous  entreaties,  they  tied  his  hands  to- 
gether, and  then,  passing  the  rope  over  the  limb  of  the 
tree,  drew  him  up  directly  over  the  wood  prepared  to 
roast  their  unfortunate  victim.  As  soon  as  he  was  at  a 
proper  height  old  Titigaw  advanced,  and,  cutting  off  his 
toes,  exclaimed,  "  White  dog  no  shoot  big  chief  any  more." 
Peeroon  next  stepped  forward  and  said,  in  reply  to  the 
entreaties  of  poor  Grovenor  for  mercy,  "I  give  white 
cap'n  mercy : "  and  cut  off  his  nose.  The  pile  was 
now  kindled  ;  and  Rozella,  whose  tender  heart  was 
breaking  with  anguish,  begged  and  entreated  that  his  life 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONTA.  351 

might  be  spared,  and  even  offered  herself  as  a  substitute 
for  him. 

The  raging  flames  had  now  reached  their  victim  ;  and, 
as  he  screamed  with  the  agonizing  torture,  a  ring  was 
formed  around  the  blazing  pile  and  a  grand  dance  com- 
menced. They  yelled,  and  whooped,  and  powwowed  around 
the  dying  man  with  all  the  infernal  howlings  and  screech- 
ings  that  savage  imaginations  could  suggest  or  savage 
throats  execute.  Some  barked  like  dogs  ;  some  howled 
like  wolves ;  some  hooted  like  owls  ;  while  others  imi- 
tated every  strange  and  wild  noise  or  note  they  had  ever 
heard  in  the  pathless-  forest  or  upon  the  lonely  mountain. 
So  awful  and  unearthly  were  their  outcries  that  the  air 
seemed  full  of  evil  and  malignant  spirits  fresh  from  the 
pit  of  woe.  The  wild  beasts,  as  they  snuffed  the  air  laden 
with  the  odor  of  burning  human  flesh,  came  rushing  down 
from  the  mountain  sides,  uttering  their  most  furious 
cries,  but  which  were  tame  and  spiritless  when  contrasted 
with  the  infernal  din  of  his  savage  companion,  man. 

The  mild  eyes  of  the  deer,  as  he  gazed  from  his  covert 
upon  the  terrible  scene,  seemed  to  fill  with  tears  as  he 
drew  back  with  horror  and  bounded  away,  congratulating 
himself,  doubtless,  that  he  did  not  belong  to  the  human 
species ;  and  the  eagle  from  his  lofty  height  gazed  with 
fierce  and  indignant  amazement  upon  the  unwonted  scene 
and  flew  shrieking  to  his  mountain  cliff.  Still  the  fiend- 
ish orgies  went  on,  some  of  the  savages  beating  upon  the 
ground,  some  rolling  and  tumbling  upon  the  ground  in 
Venzied  delight,  while  others  danced  in  time  to  the 
shrieks  and  groans  of  the  tortured  wretch  whose  piercing 
cries  were  sweet  to  their  ears.  They  kept  up  their 
dancing,  whooping,  and  powwowing  until  the  charred  and 
blackened  body  of  poor  Grovenor  dropped  lifeless  among 
the  brands  and  ashes  of  the  fire,  when  they  dispersed  to 
their  blankets  to  dream  over  their  hellish  exploit. 


352  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

The  next  morning  the  sun  rose  as  bright  and  beautiful 
over  the  cold  remains  of  the  unfortunate  Grovenor  as 
though  all  had  been  but  a  feast  of  fun  and  frolic.  But  a 
cry  had  gone  up  from  the  spot  to  the  throne  of  the  Most 
High,  and  a  stern  voice  was  heard  to  reply,  "  Vengeance 
is  mine  :  I  will  repay." 

So  at  least  did  it  seem  to  the  ear  of  faith  of  the  weary 
and  sorrowing  pilgrims  of  Laconia,  as  they  reflected  that, 
now  the  arm  of  man  was  shortened,  they  must  look  to  Him 
who  holds  all  things  as  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand.  The 
Indians  seemed  more  excited  and  irritable  than  the  day 
previous,  and  soon  hurried  their  captives  rapidly  along 
through  the  dark  and  dismal  forests.  Notwithstanding 
the  sufferings,  privations,  and  the  late  terrible  scene  of 
revengeful  cruelty  through  which  the  captives  had  passed, 
they  could  not  but  recur  to  the  sublime  scenes  of  Nature 
which  had  lain  in  their  route  with  peculiar  satisfaction. 
Especially  was  this  the  case  with  the  young  ladies,  who 
often  referred  to  them  with  great  enthusiasm,  and  saying 
how  much  their  pleasure  would  have  been  enhanced  could 
they  have  visited  them  under  more  favorable  auspices. 
Rozella  and  Elsie  had  given  each  other  a  history  of  their 
journey  since  they  separated  at  Red  Hill,  and  most  ear- 
nestly and  eloquently  did  Elsie  dwell  upon  the  surpassing 
grandeur  of  the  route  taken  by  Peeroon.  She  described 
the  Notch  through  which  their  route  laid  as  being  a  moun- 
tain pass  of  wonderful  sublimity,  and,  as  she  thought,  not 
unlike,  save  in  the  majesty  of  its  proportions,  those  in  the 
old  countries  where  in  olden  time  a  few  brave  and  deter- 
mined men  had  met  and  repulsed  mighty  armies. 

"  0,"  interrupted  Rozella,  "how  I  wish  Britton  Waldron 
had  been  there  with  his  little  Spartan  band  of  Mountain 
Rangers  !  Wouldn't  he  have  proved  another  Lconidas  at 
the  straits  of  Thermopylas  and  set  you  all  free!" 

"  The  same  thought  and  wish  occurred  to  me,"  continued 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  353 

Elsie ;  "  but  the  time  for  our  deliverance  has  not  yet 
come." 

"But  it  will  come,"  cried  Rozella,  "if  our  lives  and 
theirs  are  spared  and  they  return  safe  from  Cape  Breton." 

"  My  faith,  too,"  replied  Elsie,  "on  that  point  is  strong  ; 
and  I  hope  and  pray  that  it  may  be  so." 

"  And  you  know,"  replied  Rozella,  "  that  we  have  learned 
to  have  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  our  prayers." 

"But,  as  I  was  saying,"  resumed  Elsie,  "  the  mountain  at 
this  pass  is  cloven  to  its  very  base,  and  forms  a  deep  and 
narrow  valley,  through  which  the  Saco  flows  from  the  west 
to  the  east  side  of  the  mountains,  just  wide  enough  (per- 
haps three  rods)  to  allow  the  passage  of  the  little  river.  This 
mighty  chasm  extends  between  two  enormous  cliffs  for  a 
distance  of  three  miles,  rising  two  thousand  feet  above  the 
path  ;  and  in  one  place  it  is  a  mere  fissure,  onlytwenty-three 
feet  in  width,  for  it  was  measured  by  poor  Grovenor." 

"  How  delighted  I  should  be  to  see  it ! "  exclaimed 
Rozella. 

"  But,"  resumed  Elsie,  "  I  have  not  yet  told  you  of  the  most 
picturesque  features  in  the  Notch  ;  and  I  dare  say  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  objects  in  the  world  is  the  silver  cas- 
cade which  runs,  or  slides  rather,  from  a  height  of  nearly 
a  thousand  feet  above  the  subjacent  valley  over  a  smoothly 
polished  rock  into  the  pass  below.  I  say  it  slides  rather 
than  runs  ;  and  I  use  this  term  because  I  know  of  no  other 
which  so  well  expresses  its  peculiar  appearance  and  mo- 
tion." 

"  0  that  I  could  see  it!"  cried  Rozella.  "But  how  far 
from  the  opening  of  the  chasm  is  this  lovely  cascade  ?  " 

"  Only  half  a  mile,"  replied  Elsie. 

"  And  did  you  see  aught  else  worthy  of  note  ?  "  inquired 
Rozella. 

"  Every  thing,"  answered  Elsie,  "  was  worthy  of  note  ; 
but  one  object  which  I  particularly  noticed  was  a  singular 
30* 


354  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

tumulus,  or  mound  of  earth,  which  the  Indians  called  Big 
Chief's  Grave.  Some  of  our  party  measured  it  and 
found  it  three  hundred  feet  in  length,  seventy-five  in  width, 
and  fifty  in  height.  One  of  the  Indians,  who  spoke  Eng- 
lish, said  that,  according  to  their  traditions,  it  was  the 
burial-place  of  one  of  the  last  of  a  giant  race  that  had 
lived  in  the  country  ages  before  it  was  occupied  by  the 
red  man." 

"  They  must  have  been  a  race  of  men,"  said  Rozella, 
"  of  a  stature  equalling  the  loftiest  trees  and  of  a  prowess 
infinitely  greater  than  any  of  the  ancient  heroes  of  whom 
history  speaks." 

"  White  squaw  too  much  talk,"  grunted  old  Titigaw  as  he 
motioned  to  Peeroon,  who  approached  and  separated  the 
young  ladies,  who  did  not  again  meet  until  they  reached 
the  beautiful  sheet  of  water  (now  called  Willoughby  Lake) 
lying  between  two  peaks,  which  evidently  at  some  remote 
period  had  formed  but  a  single  mountain.  The  eastern 
peak  was  called  Ananance,  after  a  sagamore  of  the  St. 
Francis  tribe  who  had  his  lodge  upon  the  mountain.  And 
a  more  commanding  or  romantic  location  could  hardly  be 
found.  Promontories  arise  along  the  crescent-shaped 
shores  of  the  lake,  with  little  inlets  between  them ;  and  al- 
though it  is  not  over  eight  miles  in  length  and  three  in 
width,  yet  it  is  a  beautiful  and  picturesque  little  lake. 

"  There  is  a  darling  infant  lake,"  cried  Eozella,  as  they 
came  in  sight  of  it,  "  smiling  as  it  sleeps  in  the  cradle  of 
the  mountains." 

"  It  is  indeed  a  delightful  offspring,"  exclaimed  Elsie  as 
she  came  up  to  where  the  others  had  halted  to  receive  or- 
ders from  Ananance,  the  great  sagamore  of  the  St.  Francis 
Indians. 

Titigaw  and  Peeroon,  who  had  been  conferring  with 
Ananance,  now  returned  and  announced  that  the  captives 
were  to  be  taken  to  the  St.  Francis  tribe,  where  Frontenac, 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  355 

the  French  governor  of  Canada,  would  pay  over  the  boun- 
ty money  for  the  captives  and  scalps.  They  now  resumed 
their  march,  and  passed  another  beautiful  sheet  of  water, 
called  by  the  Indians  Memphremagog,  about  thirty-five 
miles  long  and  from  two  to  ten  wide.  Proceeding  along 
its  shores,  they  reached  and  followed  down  its  outlet,  called 
Magog  River,  which  empties  into  the  River  St.  Francis. 
They  foll6wed  the  last-named  stream  but  a  short  distance 
when  they  came  upon  the  great  Indian  settlement  of  the 
St.  Francis  tribes,  where,  at  their  approach,  the  inhabit- 
ants, male  and  female,  came  out  to  meet  them,  and,  pa- 
rading in  two  long  files,  received  them  with  great  parade 
and  ceremony. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  May,  and  the  village  of  St.  Fran- 
cis exhibited  signs  that  some  new  scene  of  excitement  was 
soon  to  transpire.  The  time  since  their  captivity  had 
seemed  long  and  tedious  to  the  little  band  of  Laconians, 
who  had  been  mostly  employed  at  moccason  and  basket 
making.  But  in  the  interim  they  had  acquired  much 
knowledge  respecting  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  In- 
dians, and  were  thereby  enabled  to  tell  when  any  unusual 
occurrence,  either  of  sport  or  slaughter,  was  about  to 
transpire.  But,  this  morning,  an  observer  less  skilful 
than  themselves  might  have  seen  the  unusual  excitement 
in  their  midst ;  for  the  braves  were  all  out  with  their  best 
wampum,  and  beads,  and  eagles'  feathers,  and  arrayed  in 
the  apparel  only  worn  on  extraordinary  occasions.  Squire 
Langdell,  who  had  so  far  gained  upon  the  good  will  of 
the  Indians  as  to  be  allowed  to  converse  with  them,  now 
learned  that  old  Titigaw,  Peeroon,  and  several  other  war- 
riors had  been  on  an  expedition  nearly  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Laconia,  and,  meeting  four  of  the  English,  who 
were  out  on  a  hunting  and  fishing  excursion  upon  the 
River  Pemigewasset,  had  captured  two  and  killed  one, 
while  the  fourth  had  made  his  escape.     In  consequence  of 


356  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

their  bad  temper  and  disappointment  induced  by  the 
escape  of  the  fourth,  and  the  consequent  loss  of  bounty  for 
his  scalp,  the  Indians  were  about  to  compel  the  remaining 
two  to  run  the  gantlet ;  and  there  was  little  doubt  but 
both  would  be  killed  ;  for  the  Indians  had  armed  them- 
selves with  extra  clubs  and  weapons,  and  exhibited  a  vin- 
dictive spirit  which  boded  ill  to  the  new  prisoners.  The 
squire,  having  ascertained  in  what  lodge  they  were  con- 
fined, asked  and  obtained  permission  to  visit  them,  that 
he  might  thereby  take  any  message  they  might  wish  to 
send  to  their  friends,  and  of  which  he  would  be  the  bearer 
in  case  he  should  ever  make  his  escape.  At  his  approach 
the  prisoners  came  out ;  and,  as  the  Indians  were  crowded 
around  them  in  sufficient  numbers  to  prevent  their  escape, 
they  were  allowed  to  remain  in  the  open  air.  Both  had 
been  nearly  stripped  of  their  clothes  preparatory  to  run- 
ning the  gantlet,  that  the  blows  and  thrusts  of  their  sav- 
age tormentors  might  the  better  take  effect ;  and  the  eldest 
of  the  two,  who  was  a  middle-aged  man,  was  the  very 
picture  of  woe  and  despair.  The  other,  who  was  a 
young  man,  was  apparently  careless  and  indifferent. 
The  squire  now  addressed  the  eldest  and  inquired  his 
name. 

"  Amos  Eastman,  of  Pennacook,"  answered  the  unfortu- 
nate man. 

"  I  am  somewhat  acquainted,"  replied  the  squire,  "  in 
that  vicinity,  having  come  from  Laconia  myself;  and 
should  a  kind  Providence  permit  me  to  return  home  before 
yourself,  what  word,  if  any,  shall  I  convey  to  your 
friends  ?  » 

Eastman,  who  read  in  the  tone  and  manner  of  the  good 
squire  the  fate  he  feared  was  about  to  befall  himself,  re- 
plied,— 

"If  I  fall,  tell  them  how,  and  give  them  my  last  and 
best  wishes." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  357 

The  squire  then  turned  to  the  young  man  and  asked 
him  if  he  would  give  him  his  name. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  he  ;  "  but  I  am  Stark  naked." 

"  I  see  you  are/''  returned  the  squire  :  "  but  what  would 
your  name  be  if  you  were  dressed  ?  M 

"Stark  attired,"  replied  the  young  man. 

The  squire's  dignity  was  a  little  touched  by  this  per- 
siflage; and  he  resumed  sharply,  "What  will  it  be  if  the 
Indians  crack  your  skull  ?  " 

"  Stark  mad,"  was  the  reply. 

The  now  really  irritated  squire,  as  he  turned  upon  his 
heel  and  was  about  to  leave  him,  continued  :  "  And  what 
will  it  be  if  they  beat  your  foolish  brains  out?  " 

"  Stark  fool,"  was  the  answer,  "  if  I  let  them,  and  Stark 
dead  if  they  succeed." 

The  honest-minded  squire  was  so  taken  aback  by  these 
replies,  the  real  meaning  of  which  he  failed  to  discern,  that 
he  hardly  knew  what  to  think  of  such  a  hard  subject  until 
Eastman  informed  him  that  his  name  was  John  Stark,  of 
Derryfield,  near.  Amoskeag  Falls,  where  his  father  resided  ; 
whereupon  the  squire  laughed  heartily  at  the  jocular  turn 
given  to  the  matter  by  the  young  man,  and  observed  he 
had  heard  that  his  father  came  across  the  water  from 
Dumbarton :  "  And  therefore,"  said  he,  "  you  are  a  Stark 
Scotchman." 

"  Not  exactly,"  replied  Stark  ;  "  for  my  mother  was  a 
native  of  the  north  of  Ireland." 

"  But,"  resumed  the  squire,  "  don't  you  feel  the  dreadful 
ordeal  through  which  you  are  about  to  pass?" 

"  Not  a  bit,"  cried  the  young  man ;  "  it's  nothing  but 
fun  for  a  wild  blood  like  myself." 

"  But,"  returned  the  squire,  "  they  are  terribly  inhuman 
and  fiendish  in  their  punishments  and  tortures,  as  I  sup- 
pose you  are  well  aware." 

"  Ay,"  replied  Stark,  "  as  fiendish  as  devils ;  but  trust 


358  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

me  to  dodge  them ;  I  will  show  them  a  trick  worth 
knowing.  But  I  see  they  are  parading  for  the  perform- 
ances to  commence. " 

The  Indians  were  now  arranging  themselves  in  two 
long  parallel  lines  ;  and  in  their  ranks  stood  Taurus,  who 
had  remained  in  the  village  ever  since  the  captivity  of  the 
Laconians,  club  in  hand,  ready  and  eager  to  strike  down 
his  unfortunate  fellow-countrymen. 

"  I  wish,"  said  the  squire  to  Stark,  "  that  gaunt,  evil-eyed 
fellow  there  was  to  run  the  gantlet  in  your  stead  ;  "  and 
thereupon  gave  him  a  short  history  of  the  life  and  charac- 
ter of  Taurus. 

"  He  must  look  sharp,"  said  Stark,  "  or  he  will  get  his 
head  mellowed." 

"  Truly,"  said  the  squire,  "  I  hope  he  will  meet  with 
some  accident  of  that  sort ;  nothing  would  give  me  greater 
pleasure." 

The  orders  for  the  prisoners  to  be  brought  forward  were 
now  given  ;  and  poor  Eastman  was  led  to  the  head  of  the 
gantlet,  trembling  fearfully  and  as  pale  as  death.  The 
lines  were  composed  of  thirty  men  on  a  side,  facing 
each  other,  and  armed  with  heavy  clubs  of  maple  and 
beech.  The  prisoner  was  to  pass  the  entire  length  of 
the  lines  at  such  speed  as  he  chose  to  adopt;  while  each 
member  of  the  gantlet  was  at  liberty  to  strike  and  kill 
him  if  he  could  before  he  got  through.  If  the  prisoner 
got  through  alive,  and  there  was  enough  of  life  left  in  him 
to  enable  him  to  survive,  he  was  permitted  to  live. 

The  command  to  start  was  now  given,  and  Eastman 
rushed  forward  with  all  his  speed  ;  but  as  he  entered  the 
gantlet,  Taurus,  who  was  among  the  first  on  the  lines, 
struck  him  a  heavy  blow  and  laid  him  prostrate. 

"  Blast  him !  "  cried  Stark  to  the  squire,  as  he  saw  the 
foul  blow.  "  He'll  have  somebody  to  plot  for  him  soon 
besides  that  old  Dolly  of  whom  you  just  spoke  ;  you  had 
better  believe  that,  now." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  359 

Eastman  quickly  rallied,  and  sprang  to  his  feet,  and 
started  again  on  his  way,  and  was  again  and  again  knocked 
down  as  often  as  he  arose,  until  he  finally  got  through 
the  lines,  bleeding  from  head  to  foot  and  beaten  almost  to 
a  jelly,  and  fell  upon  the  ground  apparently  lifeless.  The 
savages  rested  a  few  minutes,  and  then  orders  were  given 
for  Stark  to  approach.  He  came  forward  as  straight  as 
an  Indian  himself,  with  his  arms  folded  upon  his  breast, 
and  when  he  reached  the  head  of  the  lines,  dropping  his 
hands  upon  his  hips,  he  leaped  high  in  air  and  turned  a 
somerset.  As  he  came  down,  with  his  hands  still  upon  his 
hips,  only  one  foot  struck  the  ground,  while  the  other  was 
thrust  between  his  arm  and  side,  remaining  suspended 
until  he  struck  the  ground,  when  he  allowed  it  to  fall. 
The  Indians  were  much  impressed  with  admiration  at  this 
feat,  but  dared  not  show  him  any  favor ;  and  word  was 
therefore  given  for  him  to  start. 

As  he  did  so  he  sprang  furiously  upon  the  first  Indian 
and  knocked  his  club  from  his  hand  ;  then,  seizing  it,  he 
darted  behind  the  second  Indian  opposite,  whom  he  pushed 
directly  under  the  falling  club  of  Taurus.  The  unfor- 
tunate savage  received  the  full  force  of  the  blow  and  was 
felled  to  the  earth  ;  but  the  next  instant  his  fall  was 
avenged  by  the  terrible  blows  which  were  inflicted  upon 
the  hard  head  of  Taurus  by  the  friends  of  the  fallen  man 
and  by  the  muscular  arm  of  Stark.  Stark  now  darted 
along  the  lines,  overturning  some,  knocking  down  others, 
and  throwing  them  all  into  such  disorder  that  their  blows 
fell  oftener  upon  each  other  than  upon  himself.  He  got 
through  nearly  or  quite  unharmed  ;  and,  upon  reaching  the 
spot  where  poor  Eastman  still  lay  insensible,  he  looked 
back,  and  there  was  the  whole  party  engaged  in  a  violent 
and  bloody  assault  each  upon  the  other.  About  twenty  In- 
dians were  lying  upon  the  ground,  among  whom  was  Tau- 
rus, one  of  whose  "  bull's  eyes  "  had  been  knocked  from 


360  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

its  orbit  to  the  earth,  and  he  was  finally  dragged  off 
bleeding  and  senseless  ;  and  from  that  time  Rozella  was 
no  more  troubled  by  him,  although  his  skull  was  too  thick 
to  be  broken  by  an  Indian's  club. 

From  this  day  Stark  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  the 
savages  ;  but  the  measure  of  his  fame  was  not  yet  full. 
Not  long  after,  he  was  set,  one  day,  to  hoeing  corn  ;  and 
he  gave  them  such  a  specimen  of  the  "  improved  method  " 
as  they  did  not  much  approve — going  into  the  work  in 
real  gantlet  style,  first  to  the  right  and  then  to  the  left,  and 
making  a  clean  sweep  of  weeds,  corn,  and  every  thing  else. 

The  Indians  rushed  upon  him  to  try  his  own  system  on 
himself ;  but  Stark  cut  several  of  the  foremost  down  with 
as  little  ceremony  as  he  had  levelled  the  corn,  and  told 
their  frightened  companions  that  hoeing  corn  was  fit  work 
for  squaws,  and  not  suitable  for  warriors  like  himself,  who 
ought  to  be  made  a  chief.  This  exploit  gave  the  finishing 
touch  to  Stark's  greatness  in  their  estimation,  and  they  at 
once  adopted  him  as  a  worthy  son  of  their  tribe  and  made 
him  a  chief.  They  arrayed  him  in  their  most  gaudy  and 
splendid  apparel,  decorated  him  with  wampum  woven  with 
beads  and  shells  and  thickly  studded  with  quills  and  stars 
of  silver,  and  offered  him  one  of  their  most  worthy  women 
for  a  mother  and  a  second  Pocahontas  for  a  wife,  both  of 
which  Stark  refused  in  favor  of  the  blooming  Molly  Page, 
of  Dumbarton,  whom  he  subsequently  married. 

The  sun  has  set  behind  the  distant  peaks  of  Ananance, 
whose  towering  summit  is  still  gilded  by  its  last  golden 
rays,  and  the  shades  of  an  August  evening  will  soon  de- 
scend upon  the  picturesque  village  of  St.  Francis.  The 
whole  western  sky  is  now  suffused  with  blushes,  painted 
by  the  skilful  pencil  of  the  setting  sun,  whose  streaks  of 
carmine  tint  the  colorless  cheek  of  the  fleecy  clouds.  The 
racing,  wrestling,  dancing,  and  other  wild  sports  of  an 


LEGENDS   OF    LACONIA.  361 

Indian  holiday  are  still  going  on  as  unremittingly  as  at 
any  time  during  the  day.  It  is  the  great  wedding  day  of 
Ananance,  the  chief  sagamore,  who  has  magnanimously 
consented  to  take  another  wife  from  the  fair  daughters  of 
St.  Francis,  to  share  with  him  his  lodge  upon  the  com- 
manding mountain  which  bears  his  august  name.  So  lib- 
erally disposed  were  the  Indians  to-day  that  their  great 
council  chamber  was  thrown  open  for  a  meeting  of  the 
captives,  not  only  of  the  village  of  St.  Francis,  but  of  all 
the  adjacent  villages.  These  had  now  assembled  within 
the  lodge  in  social  conclave,  guarded,  to  be  sure,  but  not 
intruded  upon,  by  the  Indians,  who  stood  at  proper  dis- 
tances about  the  council  chamber.  Here  were  men  and 
women  who  had  suffered  all  manner  of  hardships,  and  en- 
dured wrongs  and  wretchedness  untold  and  to  their  de- 
scendants unknown.  It  was  indeed  a  melting  scene,  and 
eyes  wept  and  hearts  bled  afresh.  Squire  Langdell  first 
addressed  the  meeting,  and  gave  a  history  of  the  capture 
and  sufferings  of  himself  and  friends  ;  and  then  Eozella 
arose  and  sang  an  appropriate  hymn.  Others  then  re- 
counted the  perils  and  dangers  through  which  they  had 
passed,  and  lamented  the  small  prospect  that  they  would 
ever  be  able  to  effect  their  escape.  Enos  Bishop  informed 
them  that  he  was  taken  from  Contoocook  and  sold  to  a 
French  gentleman  for  three  hundred  livres,  which  sum 
must  be  repaid  before  he  could  regain  his  freedom  ;  but 
he  had  written  to  the  Rev.  Jedediah  Jewett,  of  Rowley, 
Massachusetts,  to  take  a  collection  in  his  parish  in  his  be- 
half, and  he  hoped  ere  long  to  be  ransomed.  Robert  Barber 
announced  that  he  was  taken  at  the  same  time  with  Enos 
Bishop,  and  had  been  sold  to  a  Frenchman  about  a  mile 
from  St.  Francis.  Samuel  Scribner  said  that  he  was  taken 
from  Bakerstown  with  the  last  speaker  while  mowing  in 
his  field.  They  had  carried  their  guns  with  them  to  the 
field,  set  them  up  by  the  fence,  and  went  about  their  work. 
31 


362  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

The  Indians  crawled  through  the  grass  between  them  and 
their  guns  unobserved,  and  thus  cut  off  their  retreat. 
They  were  then  dragged  away,  and  were  treated  more 
roughly  than  Squire  Langdell  and  his  family,  and  finally 
sold  to  a  Frenchman  in  Chambly,  about  twelve  miles 
distant.  He  added,  with  a  smile  upon  his  sorrow-stricken 
countenance,  that  he  was  sold,  or  rather  swopped,  for  a 
French  horse,  with  a  shockingly  bad  mane  and  tail  at  that ; 
whereupon  Rozella  and  Elsie,  for  the  first  time  since  their 
capture,  laughed  outright.  He  closed  by  saying  that  he 
would  be  extremely  happy  to  get  back  to  Namie  Webster, 
whom  he  had  married  but  a  short  time  previous  to  his  seizure. 
Mrs.  Johnson  told  them  she  was  taken  from  Number 
Four,  (Charlestown,)  and,  with  her  sister  and  three  little 
children,  dragged  from  their  beds  with  no  clothing  save 
what  their  captors  allowed  them.  She  was  then  driven 
through  the  woods  and  bushes  until  her  feet  were  torn 
and  lacerated  and  covered  with  blood.  One  of  the  male 
captives  who  was  in  the  same  company  gave  her  his  own 
stockings,  and  then  the  Indians  gave  her  a  pair  of  moc- 
casons.  They  then  came  upon  a  horse  well  known  to  the 
English  by  the  name  of  Dobbin,  and  placed  their  plunder 
upon  him,  and  herself  atop  of  that.  The  ages  of  her  chil- 
dren were  respectively  six,  four,  and  two  years,  and  that 
of  her  sister  fourteen.  "  And,"  she  added,  as  the  tears 
rolled  down  her  cheeks,  "  while  I  have  no  disposition  to 
reproach  the  Indians  with  a  want  of  delicacy,  for  they 
kept  at  a  decorous  distance,  yet  none  but  a  mother  can 
appreciate  my  unhappy  position  when,  in  the  dark  gloom 
and  solitude  of  the  forest,  at  dead  of  night,  a  little  daugh- 
ter was  born.  After  its  birth  the  Indians  approached  and 
danced  around  my  humble  bed,  clapping  their  hands  for 
joy  and  crying  out,  '  Two  moneys  —  two  moneys  more  1 ' 
referring  to  the  additional  bounty  money  they  would  re- 
ceive-    We  were  afterwards  compelled  to  dance  around 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  363 

the  fire  in  the  same  ring  with  the  Indians,  whose  steps  we 
were  taught  and  whose  songs  we  were  compelled  to  learn. 
A  part  of  one  of  these  songs  was  as  follows  :  — 

'  Dorma  witchee  notchepung  narwis  cumpton.' 

Whether  this  task  was  imposed  upon  us  for  their  diver- 
sion or  as  a  religious  ceremony  I  cannot  say." 

The  next  speaker  was  Fanny  Noble.  "  At  the  time  of 
my  capture,"  said  she,  "  I  was  so  young  that  I  suppose  I 
was  not  worth  selling  ;  so  I  was  taken  by  Monsieur  Louis 
St.  Auge  Charlie,  an  eminent  merchant.  I  was  taught  to 
regard  Monsieur  and  Madame  St.  Auge  as  my  parents. 
They  caused  me  to  be  baptized  by  the  name  of  Eleanor 
and  educated  in  the  tenets  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 
I  learned  the  '  Pater  Noster  \  and  the  '  Ave  Maria/  went  to 
mass,  and  told  my  beads  with  great  devotion." 

"  Horror !  "  interrupted  Rozella.  "  Father  Ralle  and 
Mogg  Hegon  were  not  able  to  make  me  do  it." 

"  Since  then,"  resumed  Fanny,  "  I  have  been  at  a  board- 
ing school  in  Montreal,  and  have  taken  lessons  in  needle- 
work, music,  and  painting.  I  have  now  gained  permission 
to  come  here  to  visit  my  brother,  who  is  attired  in  Indian 
costume,  and  wears  at  least  fifty  brooches  in  his  shirt, 
clasps  on  his  arms,  and  any  quantity  of  shells  and  bells 
about  his  legs  and  feet.  He  often  says  he  would  not 
change  his  mode  of  living  for  any  other  known  to  him. 
And  although  I  am  an  orphan,  and  might  as  well  be  here 
as  any  where  so  far  as  parental  protection  is  concerned, 
yet  I  long  to  go  back  to  that  little  lovely  Swan  Island,  in 
the  Kennebec,  where  I  sported  in  childhood  ;  for,  if  I 
have  no  parents  to  receive  me  to  the  fond  arms  of  affec- 
tion, still  I  fancy  the  bright  waters  that  lave  that  island's 
shore  would  put  on  their  wonted  gladsome  smile  of  yore 
and  greet  me  with  an  earnest  welcome.     0,  how  I  miss  the 


364  LEGENDS   OF    LACONIA. 

witching  morning  song  of  the  lark  as  he  mounts  into  the 
cloudless  sky,  trilling  his  silver  melody  in  sparkling  glob- 
ules from  his  swelling  throat !  What  are  all  the  tinkling 
bells  of  priest  or  Indian  compared  to  these  celestial  notes, 
which  ring  in  thrilling  cadence  of  love  from  the  very  gates 
of  heaven  ?  Nor  can  I  ever  forget  the  sweetly  sad  song  of 
the  whippoorwill  that  used  to  come  and  sit  upon  the  rough 
tombstone  of  her  who  was  all  the  world  to  me,  and  sing 
so  softhT  plaintive  as  the  trailing  garments  of  night  swept 
over  the  misty  valley.  0,  were  I  but  there,  how  cheerfully 
would  I  sleep  the  sleep  of  death  upon  the  bosom  of  her 
own  peaceful  dust,  could  my  spirit  rise  as  spotless  as  her  own 
and  blend  with  it  in  the  perfect  unison  of  immortal  love ! " 

Here  the  company  were  greeted  by  John  Stark,  who 
suddenly  made  his  appearance  at  the  door  of  the  lodge 
arrayed  in  all  the  trappings  of  a  chief  as  he  was. 

"  Not  Stark  naked  to-day,  Squire  Langdell,"  cried  he  as 

he  took  off  his  hat  to  the  squire.    "  But  what  the  d 1  are 

you  all  crying  about  here  ?  Pshaw !  I  must  put  a  little 
life  into  you."  So  saying,  he  turned  one  of  his  famous 
somersets,  throwing  his  heels  high  in  the  air,  and  coming 
down  upon  his  feet  with  his  silver  bracelets  and  bells  all 
ringing  and  rattling. 

"Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  if  I  had  been 
down  in  the  mouth  like  this  blubbering  set  of  boobies 
here,  I  should  have  had  my  head  driven  down  between  my 
shoulders  long  ago.  But  now  you  see  I'm  in  regular 
standing  in  the  lodge  ;  and  you  must  cheer  up,  for  your  turns 
may  come  next.  Mr.  Wheelwright,  of  Boston,  has  just 
arrived  with  the  purchase  money  for  this  crowned  head  of 
mine,  which  luckily  the  redskins  did  not  succeed  in  driv- 
ing in.  But  where  is  that  lean  hound,  the  one-eyed  Taurus  ? 
The  loss  of  that  eye  was  a  harder  blow  than  he  got  from 
Wenane's  stoneheaded  arrow.  It  was  nearly  a  month  be- 
fore he  could  steer  his  craft  at  all  straight ;  and  when  at 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  365 

last  he  did  get  out  of  the  Great  Medicine's  lodge,  ne  struck 
a  bee  line,  or  as  near  one  as  his  one  eye  permitted,  through 
the  woods ;  and  I  warrant  you  he  will  not  be  seen  here 
again  before  another  spring.  If  he  does,  just  send  for  me, 
»nd  I  will  get  his  head  put  through  or  under  another  course 
of  sprouts. " 

By  this  time  the  company  were  laughing  instead  of  cry- 
ing, and  their  joy  was  much  enhanced  by  the  news  of  the 
departure  of  Taurus. 

u  How  is  Mr.  Eastman  ?  "  asked  Squire  Langdell. 

"Much  better,"  replied  Stark;  "although  he  has  had  a 
hard  time  of  it.  He  will  leave  with  me  in  the  morning. 
We  have  both  obtained  leave  from  the  old  French  gov- 
ernor to  depart,  and  shall  be  off  as  early  as  possible.  So 
cheer  up  and  look  at  the  bright  side  of  the  picture ;  for 
your  own  turns  will  surely  come,  and  I  hope  soon."  Then, 
taking  them  all  in  turn  by  the  hand,  with  a  hearty  shake 
and  a  cheerful  good  by  he  left  the  lodge.  The  meeting 
now  broke  up,  the  captives  being  conducted  to  their  own 
lodges  under  a  strong  guard ;  and  thus  ended  the  interest- 
ing reunion  of  the  English  at  St.  Francis  on  the  last  wed- 
ding day  of  the  great  sagamore  Ananance. 

"  Mercy !  "  cried  Rozella  but  a  week  after  the  above- 
named  meeting.  "  How  much  more  blood  must  we  be  com- 
pelled to  see  run  ?  I  was  in  hopes  that  the  bloody  fray  at 
the  running  of  the  gantlet  by  Eastman  and  Stark  would 
be  the  last  tragic  scene  we  should  witness." 

"  It  is  heart  sickening,"  replied  Elsie  ;  "  and  I  wish  we 
could  be  allowed  to  remain  even  in  this  loathsome  prison 
to-day,  instead  of  going  out  as  spectators  of  the  coming 
contest." 

"  It  will  be  useless  to  request  it,"  observed  the  squire  ; 
"  and  we  must  put  the  best  face  on  the  matter  we  can  ;  for 
you  remember  Stark  charged  us  to  keep  up  our  courage 
31* 


366  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

and  cheerfulness,  and  not  exhibit  our  weaknesses  to  the 
savages,  and  we  should  fare  all  the  better  for  it.  Besides, 
the  fight  to-day  is  between  the  Indians  alone  ;  and  the  only 
feature  of  it  which  necessarily  concerns  us  is,  that,  in  case 
the  St.  Francis  tribe  is  defeated,  we  may  all  be  removed, 
if  our  lives  are  spared,  to  the  country  of  a  more  distant 
tribe,  where  we  may  not  fare  as  well  as  we  do  here,  and 
where  our  friends  may  not  be  able  to  reach  us." 

"  I  think,"  replied  Rozella,  "  that  is  a  sufficient  reason 
why  we  should  wish  the  St.  Francis  tribe  may  be  vic- 
torious." 

"  So  do  I,"  cried  Elsie  ;  "  for  Rozella's  friends  will  be 
sure  to  ransom  or  recapture  her  when  they  return  from 
Cape  Breton.  But  it  matters  but  little  what  becomes  of 
me  ;  for  I  have  no  one  to  look  to  for  aid  and  protection, 
and  my  future  destiny  seems  dark  and  dreary.  I  am  sad 
and  lonely ;  for,  since  poor  Charles's  death,  no  one  cares  for 
me." 

And  as  she  pronounced  the  still  loved  name  poor  Elsie 
burst  into  a  flood  of  tears  and  wept  and  sobbed  long  and 
bitterly.  Ever  since  the  terrible  calamity  which  had  be- 
fallen Elsie  in  the  fate  of  Charles  Cutts,  her  feelings 
were  so  tender,  and  her  sensibilities  so  acute,  that,  when 
this  subject  was  touched  upon,  no  attempt  was  made  to 
offer  consolation,  as  it  seemed  wholly  unavailing.  There- 
fore in  the  present  case,  Rozella,  to  turn  the  conversation 
into  another  channel,  asked  her  father  to  explain  the 
cause  of  the  quarrel  between  the  Indian  tribes  and  why 
they  fought  in  such  a  manner  as  they  were  about  to  do. 
The  squirel  who  saw  her  aim,  replied  that  the  contest  was 
between  the  St.  Francis  Indians  and  the  Adirondaks,  a  tribe 
that  dwelt  upon  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  quarrel  had  origi- 
nated from  a  dispute  concerning  the  ownership  of  a  por- 
tion of  land  claimed  by  both  tribes.  Some  of  the  Adiron- 
daks had  settled  upon  this  land,  and  built  wigwams,  and 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  367 

had  been  attacked  and  massacred  by  the  St.  Francis  In- 
dians ;  and  now  'the  whole  tribe  of  the  Adirondaks  had 
come  on  to  join  issue  for  the  mastery. 

"But,"  asked  Rozella,  "why  do  they  not  make  the  con- 
test general,  as  the  English  do,  instead  of  singling  out  two 
individuals  to  decide  the  result?" 

"  Because,"  said  the  squire,  "  Count  Frontenac,  the 
governor  of  Canada,  hearing  there  was  likely  to  be 
trouble  in  the  states,  had  sent  a  large  force  of  French  and 
Indians  to  Schenectady  and  Saratoga,  in  which  force  were 
comprised  most  of  the  bravest  warriors  of  the  St.  Francis 
tribe.  But  the  cunning  dogs  have  managed  to  keep  this 
fact  concealed  from  the  Adirondaks,  lest  the  latter  should 
take  advantage  of  their  weakness  ;  and  Peeroon,  under 
whose  command  the  tribe  is  left  in  the  absence  of  old 
Titigaw,  proposed  to  settle  the  quarrel  by  a  single  hand- 
to-hand  fight,  and  whichever  side  was  conquered  in  the 
person  of  its  representative  should  yield  all  further  claim 
to  the  possession  of  the  disputed  territory." 

"  But,"  said  Rozella,  "  it  is  absurd  and  foolish  thus  to 
quarrel  about  a  strip  of  wild  and  uncultivated  land." 

"  The  wilder  the  land,"  replied  the  squire,  "  the  better 
for  the  Indian  ;  and  the  manner  of  settling  the  dispute  is 
an  old  one  among  them." 

The  guard  now  entered  and  bade  the  captives  follow 
him  to  the  great  battle  ground,  and  informed  them  that  the 
Apenaquis  had  arrived  from  the  Three  Rivers  to  see  that 
both  sides  had  fair  play  ;  and  as  the  contest  was  about  to 
commence  they  must  make  haste,  so  as  to  be  there  in  time 
for  its  opening.  As  it  was  nearly  two  miles  to  the  spot, 
the  captives  were  obliged  to  walk  at  the  top  of  their  speed  ; 
and,  as  they  were  hurrying  forward,  Rozella  asked  of  the 
guard  the  object  of  their  being  taken  to  witness  the  fight. 
The  Indian  answered  that  it  was  that  the  English  might 
see  what  big  warriors  the  Indians  were,  and   that  their 


368  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

hearts  might  be  struck  with  terror  at  the  thought  that 
their  turn  to  die  might  come  soon. 

"  We  know,"  replied  Elsie,  "  how  well  they  can  fight, 
nnd  our  hearts  are  already  brimful  of  terror." 

"Ugh!"  grunted  the  savage.  "Palefaces'  hearts  hold 
some  more  terror  yet." 

When  they  reached  the  battle  field  they  found  the  St. 
Francis  Indians  and  Apenaquis  drawn  up  in  one  line  and 
the  Adirondaks  on  another,  facing  each  other,  and  covered 
from  head  to  foot  with  the  habiliments  of  war,  while  the 
hideously  painted  faces  indicated  but  too  plainly  their 
raging  thirst  for  each  other's  blood.  The  Adirondaks 
had  selected  for  their  champion  their  great  chief  and 
leader,  Wampatuck,  who  was  to  contest  the  issue  with  the 
renowned  Peeroon  of  the  St.  Francis  tribe.  They  were  to 
fight  until  one  or  the  other  was  slain,  first  upon  horseback 
and  with  lances  ;  when,  if  neither  fell,  they  were  next  to 
continue  the  contest  on  foot  and  with  tomahawk ;  and,  if 
these  failed  to  decide  the  issue,  resort  was  to  be  had  to 
knives.  The  horses  were  now  led  forward  bridled,  and 
with  a  bearskin  firmly  fastened  upon  their  backs,  and  each 
was  stationed  about  ten  paces  in  front  of  the  battle  line 
to  which  he  belonged.  The  two  chiefs  then  marched  out, 
each  in  front  of  his  own  line  of  warriors,  and,  turning, 
addressed  his  followers  to  the  effect  that,  in  case  he  should 
fall,  they  should  fulfil  the  stipulated  agreement  to  the 
letter,  make  suitable  disposal  of  his  remains,  and,  in  case 
of  another  war  between  the  now  contending  parties,  fail 
not  to  avenge  his  death.  Each  wore  only  a  girdle  of 
wampum  around  his  loins,  to  which  was  attached  a  flounce, 
or  border,  reaching  nearly  to  the  knee,  while  in  the  girdle 
was  placed  a  bright  tomahawk  and  a  long,  keen  knife. 
At  a  given  signal  both  sprang  upon  their  horses,  and  the 
long  war  lance  of  each  was  passed  to  his  hands.  The  next 
moment  they  rushed  towards  each  other  with  the  utmost 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  369 

fury,  their  eyes  glowing  with  intensest  hate  and  their 
hideous  faces  distorted  with  a  thousand  emotions  of  savage 
and  deadly  hostility.  Each  reined  his  horse  as  near  the 
other  as  he  dared,  and,  when  nearly  opposite,  made  a 
powerful  thrust  with  his  lance.  Both  missed  ;  for,  as  each 
aimed  the  blow,  the  other  threw  himself  as  quick  as 
thought  over  the  opposite  side  of  his  horse,  retaining  his 
hold  by  one  foot  and  hand  only,  while  the  lance  passed 
harmlessly  above  him.  They  instantly  wheeled  their 
steeds,  which  had  run  nearly  to  the  opposite  line,  and 
again  rushed  to  the  encounter.  Both  struck  as  before, 
and  both  attempted  the  same  manoeuvre  for  the  avoidance 
of  the  blow,  but  not  with  equal  success  ;  for  the  lance  of 
Wampatuck  came  with  tremendous  violence  against  the 
side  of  Peeroon,  who  was  a  moment  too  late  in  slipping 
over  his  horse's  side,  and  bore  him  to  the  ground.  At 
this  first  "palpable  hit"  of  their  chief  the  Adirondaks  set 
up  a  furious  howl  of  joy  ;  but  Peeroon  nothing  daunted, 
sprang  to  his  feet,  leaped  lightly  upon  his  horse,  and,  rush- 
ing again  at  his  adversary,  threw  his  lance  with  such  resist- 
less force  that  it  passed  nearly  through  and  broke  short 
off  in  the  body  of  Wampatuck's  horse,  which  immediately 
fell  dead.  It  was  now  the  turn  of  the  St.  Francis  tribe  to 
shout  and  whoop,  which  they  did  most  ferociously. 

Each  now  grasped  his  tomahawk  and  advanced  on  foot 
to  within  a  few  paces  of  the  other,  and,  pausing  for  a  mo- 
ment to  exchange  mutual  glances  of  burning  hate  and  mal- 
ice, leaped  like  a  tiger  upon  his  adversary.  Their  weapons 
only  met  and  clashed  together,  and  the  fiery  sparks  which 
flew  from  their  sharp  edges  was  the  only  result.  Neither 
dare  withdraw  his  weapon  from  the  fearful  union,  lest  dis- 
union should  bring  about  a  result  more  fatal  still,  until  they 
had  remained  in  the  attitude  assumed  at  their  closing  in  for 
nearly  a  minute  ;  when,  as  if  by  mutual  consent,  each  drew 
back,  and.  after  a  moment's  pause,  again  sprang  upon  his 


370  LEGENDS    OB1    LACOXTA. 

foe.  The  hatchet  of  Wampatuck  struck  the  side  of  Pee- 
roon,  but  in  such  a  way  as  to  glance  upon  a  rib  and  only 
inflict  a  flesh  wound  ;  while  the  weapon  of  Peeroon  cloft 
the  cheek  of  Wampatuck  from  the  ear  to  the  mouth. 
Both  now  bounded  back,  and,  after  another  frightful  glare 
at  each  other,  again  rushed  to  the  conflict.  As  they  came 
together,  both  struck  with  all  the  fury  of  desperation  ; 
but  the  keen  edge  of  Wampatuck's  axe  descended  in  full 
power  upon  the  handle  of  Peerooi/s  tomahawk  and  sev- 
ered it  completely  in  twain.  They  immediately  drew 
their  knives ;  and  now  came  the  final  struggle.  It  was 
now  "  diamond  cut  diamond,"  for  whichever  lost  his  knife 
lost  his*life,  and  there  was  no  further  mercy  or  favor  to 
be  shown  by  either.  As  they  darted  upon  each  other, 
the  horrible  cry  which  burst  from  their  lips,  and  which 
was  rather  extorted  by  the  inevitable  certainty  of  ap- 
proaching death  than  by  the  pangs  of  bodily  pain,  rang 
over  the  field  and  fell  with  startling  effect  upon  the  ears 
of  the  terror-stricken  spectators.  As  they  struck,  both 
fended  off  the  blows  and  thrusts  with  the  left  arm,  and 
the  arm  of  Wampatuck  was  cut  to  the  bone  ;  while  the 
tendons  of  Peeroon's  wrist  were  severed,  and  his  hand 
dropped  powerless  upon  his  arm.  At  the  next  plunge 
Peeroon's  ear  fell  to  the  ground ;  but  his  long  knife  had 
pierced  the  shoulder  of  Wampatuck,  whose  right  arm 
dropped  useless  by  his  side,  and  his  weapon  fell  to  the 
ground.  He  sprang  forward  to  catch  it  with  his  left 
hand,  but  was  met  by  the  bloody  blade  of  Peeroon,  which 
was  driven  to  the  hilt  in  his  heart,  and  he  fell  dead  upon 
the  ground.  So  exhausted  was  Peeroon  by  fatigue  and 
loss  of  blood,  that,  giving  his  knife  a  victorious  whirl  in 
the  air,  he  too  sank  upon  the  ground  ;  while  long  and  loud 
rang  the  rejoicing  shouts  of  the  St.  Francis  tribe,  as  they 
yelled,  whooped,  danced,  and  rolled  upon  the  earth  in  a 
perfect  frenzy  of  delight. 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  371 

But  the  defeated  Adirondaks  hung  their  heads  with 
shame  and  grief;  for  not  only  had  they  lost  their  land,  but 
their  great  chief  and  mighty  warrior,  the  brave  Wampa- 
tuck,  had  fallen.  They  sprang  forward  to  bear  off  the 
lifeless  body  of  their  beloved  chief ;  but  Peeroon  seeing 
their  design,  and  being  aware  that  if  he  failed  to  secure 
his  adversary's  scalp  he  would  be  considered  as  having 
achieved  only  half  a  victory,  dragged  himself  to  the  body, 
and,  as  his  left  hand  was  useless,  seized  the  long  scalp 
lock  of  the  fallen  chief  in  his  teeth,  and,  passing  his  keen 
knife  around  his  head,  stripped  the  scalp  from  the  skull 
ere  they  could  reach  the  spot.  Both  chiefs  were  now 
borne  from  the  field  —  the  one  alive  and  in  the  flush  of 
"glorious  victory,"  the  other  dead  and  in  shame  and  dis- 
grace. 

Squire  Langdell  and  Mr.  Tufton  now  looked  around 
for  Rozella  and  Elsie,  whom  they  supposed  to  be  standing 
just  behind  them  ;  but  both  had  fainted  and  were  lying  upon 
the  ground,  while  the  younger  Tufton  girls  were  support- 
ing their  heads.  They  sprang  to  their  assistance,  and 
Owega  procured  some  water  for  them  ;  but  they  were  too 
feeble  to  leave  the  ground  until  after  the  Indians  had  re- 
tired, and  then  were  obliged  to  be  supported  to  the  lodge. 
Elsie  passed  a  restless  and  feverish  night,  and  her  situa- 
tion was  rendered  doubly  critical  by  the  unceasing  whoop- 
ings  and  howlings  kept  up  all  night  by  the  Indians  in  con- 
sequence of  their  victory  over  the  Adirondaks ;  in  addi- 
tion to  which,  and  while  the  rejoicings  were  at  their 
height,  old  Titigaw  and  his  warriors  returned  with  a  hun- 
dred scalps  of  the  English  soldiers  slaughtered  after  the 
surrender  by  that  imbecile  old  officer,  Colonel  Munroe,  of 
Fort  William  Henry  to  the  faithless  Montcalm,  who  com- 
manded the  French  and  Indians  on  that  occasion.  Mun- 
roe's  weakness  consisted  in  surrendering  the  fort  at  all, 
and  Montcalm's  perfidy  in  disregarding  every  honorable 


372  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

principle  or  usage  of  war,  and  suffering  the  Indians  to 
rob,  slaughter*,  and  scalp  the  English  soldiers  after  they 
had  thrown  down  their  arms,  which  they  had  done  in  con- 
sequence of  receiving  his  solemn  pledge  and  word  of 
honor  that  they  should  be  protected. 

When  the  scalps  were  brought  in,  the  savages,  already 
excited  to  the  highest  pitch,  became  so  perfectly  frantic 
with  exultation  and  joy  that  they  could  not  remain  in 
their  wigwams,  but  came  out  into  the  open  air  and  rolled 
and  tumbled  upon  the  ground,  crying  out,  "Too  much  joy! 
Two  victories  for  Indian  in  one  day ! " 

They  then  built  bonfires  all  around  the  village,  and, 
procuring  poles,  stuck  the  scalps  of  the  murdered  English, 
together  with  that  of  Wampatuck,  upon  them,  and  raised 
them  aloft  with  their  bloody  locks  streaming  in  the  night 
air.  As  the  noise  and  confusion  began  to  approach  the 
lodge  where  the  captives  were  confined,  Squire  Langdell 
observed,  "  We  shall  have  trouble  to-night ;  for  these 
wolves  have  got  a  taste  of  blood,  and  they  will  not  be  sat- 
isfied until  our  own  runs." 

Elsie  groaned  in  agony  as  the  squire  spoke  ;  and  her 
father  exclaimed,  "  Alas !  alas !  they  are  even  now  howling 
at  our  very  door  !  " 

"  Cheer  up,  my  good  friends,"  cried  the  darkeyed 
Owega ;  "  it  is  a  quarrel  among  themselves." 

And  so  it  proved  ;  for  the  savages  soon  turned  ;  and  that 
night  the  little  band  of  Laconian  captives,  for  the  first 
time  since  they  left  their  dear  homes,  slept  unwatched  and 
unguarded. 

What  remained  of  the  night  after  they  retired  to  their 
humble  beds  was  passed  by  the  wearied  captives  in  quiet 
repose  ;  and  even  Elsie  dropped  into  a  calm  and  tranquil 
sleep,  from  which  she  awoke  the  following  morning  much 
refreshed  and  decidedly  better. 

After  breakfast,  one  of  the  young  squaws,  to  whom  in  a 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONTA.  373 

previous  sickness  Rozella  had  shown  much  kindness,  now- 
entered  the  lodge  and  gave  all  the  young  ladies  an  invi- 
tation to  go  boat  riding  and  fishing  with  a  little  company 
of  young  squaws.  Rozella  declined  at  first  on  account  of 
her  friend's  indisposition  ;  but  upon  Elsie's  entreating  her 
to  go.  and  Mrs.  Langdell's  assuring  her  that  she  would 
take  good  care  of  Elsie,  she  finally  consented  to  go.  The 
party  consisted  of  about  thirty  young  squaws,  full  of  life 
and  animation,  all  of  whose  forms  were  elegant  and  elas- 
tic, and  whose  features  for  the  most  part  were  regular,  and 
even  beautiful.  These,  with  Rozella,  Agnes  and  Altia 
Tufton,  and  Owega,  constituted  the  entire  party,  which 
now  proceeded  down  the  banks  of  the  River  St.  Francis, 
where  were  plenty  of  birch  bark  canoes  ready  for  use. 
There  were  other  Indians  upon  the  shore  as  well  as  upon 
the  river,  both  men  and  women  ;  though  no  one  interfered 
with  their  party,  or  even  noticed  them,  but  kept  intent 
upon  their  own  affairs.  The  young  Englishwomen  were 
somewhat  timid  as  they  entered  the  frail  bark  ;  but  Owega 
seemed  perfectly  at  home  and  was  delighted  beyond 
measure. 

Three  of  the  young  women  stepped  into  each  of  the 
canoes  ;  and  most  dexterous  oarswomen  too,  in  the  opinion 
of  Rozella.  They  sat  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe  ;  and,  as 
the  little  oars  dipped  into  the  water,  the  light  bark  shot 
from  the  shore  and  skimmed  over  the  waves  like  a  sea 
bird.  A  swift  and  exciting  race  now  commenced  ;  and  the 
speed  of  the  rival  boats  seemed  to  the  Englishwomen, 
who  were  unused  to  such  exhibitions,  to  be  frightful  and 
the  danger  imminent.  The  boats  wheeled  at  times  in 
such  short  circles  that  they  ran  upon  their  very  sides  ; 
when,  just  as  they  were  about  to  dip  into  the  waves,  a 
sudden  though  slight  motion  of  the  oars  would  bring 
them  up  again,  and  they  would  shoot  over  the  water,  hard- 
ly seeming  to  touch  its  surface.  Next  came  what  they 
32 


374  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

called  the  ladies'  circle  race,  which  commenced  by  one 
boat  describing  a  large  circle  upon  the  water,  while  at 
equal  distances  the  others  followed. 

After  they  had  gone  around  a  certain  number  of  times 
with  astonishing  velocity,  the  foremost  canoe  then  wheeled 
to  the  outside  of  the  circle,  bringing  the  second  upon  her 
right,  and  the  next  in  order  upon  her  left ;  which  move- 
ment was  imitated  by  the  other  boats  in  turn,  until  half 
of  them  were  going  in  one  direction  and  half  in  the  other. 
Rozella  and  her  companions  expected  every  moment  that 
their  canoe  would  be  run  into  and  sunk  by  its  vis-a-vis  ; 
but,  though  the  boats  were  shot  over  the  water  within  an 
inch  or  two  of  each  other,  not  a  single  collision  occurred, 
so  skilfully  were  they  managed  by  their  "  dark  but  come- 
ly "  oarswomen. 

Fishing  came  next  in  order ;  and  the  slender  barbed 
lance  was  thrown  with  so  unerring  an  aim  as  to  excite  the 
admiration  of  the  English  ladies,  who  had  never  before 
witnessed  this  novel  mode  of  pursuing  "  the  gentle  craft." 
After  a  sufficient  supply  of  fish  was  obtained,  the  order 
was  given  by  a  young  squaw,  who  seemed  to  be  tacitly 
acknowledged  as  their  leader,  that  the  boats  should  be 
arranged  for  what  Rozella  named  "  the  dance  of  the  water 
nymphs."  The  canoes  were  now  wheeled  into  positions 
somewhat  like  the  sets  of  a  cotillon  upon  the  watery  floor ; 
and,  as  all  the  squaws  commenced  singing  in  tune,  most 
wildly  but  enchantingly  did  the  musical  notes  roll  over 
the  silent  water.  The  boats  opposite  each  other  com- 
menced a  sort  of  rocking  dance,  wheeling  from  the  set 
and  circling  around  the  outside;  then,  spinning  back  to 
their  places,  crossed  over  and  back  again ;  which  change 
was  imitated  in  turn  by  the  others,  until  the  last  couple 
swung  round  into  place,  when  all  the  boats  described  a 
circle,  following  each  other  in  rapid  succession  for  a  cer- 
tain number  of  times  ;  and  then  each  canoe  whirling  around 


LEGENDS   OF   LA.CONIA.  375 

its  companion,  all  swung  to  their  places,  and  the  dance 
was  finished.  They  next  brought  the  bows  of  the  boats 
so  closely  together  that  they  might  all  have  been  covered 
by  a  large  plate,  while  the  sterns  shot  out  like  the  spokes 
of  a  wheel.  What  the  next  evolution  would  have  been 
does  not  appear,  for  at  the  moment  of  their  becoming 
stationary  their  attention  was  diverted  by  loud  shouts 
from  the  shore,  and,  looking  in  that  direction,  they  saw 
that  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  gone  on  a  hunting  excur- 
sion that  morning  had  driven  a  large  buck  into  the  river, 
which  was  now  swimming  directly  towards  them.  The 
squaws  wheeled  their  boats,  and,  swift  as  so  many  Indian 
arrows,  darted  to  the  chase.  The  buck  turned  down  the 
river  and  exerted  all  his  strength  to  make  his  escape,  but 
was  soon  passed  by  the  squaws,  and  compelled  to  shape  his 
course  for  the  shore,  where  the  hunters  stood  ready  to  re- 
ceive him.  He  had  met  so  numerous  an  array  of  fair 
though  formidable  foes  upon  the  river,  and  been  so  hard 
pressed  by  them,  that  he  seemed,  under  the  pressure  of 
this  new  danger,  to  have  forgotten  his  former  enemies; 
nor  did  he  regain  his  presence  of  mind  until  he  came  to 
within  about  a  dozen  rods  of  the  shore,  when  he  caught 
sight  of  his  former  pursuers  and  again  wheeled  and  faced 
the  boats.  As  he  did  so  he  received  a  shower  of  blows 
upon  his  head  from  the  light  paddles  of  the  squaws  ;  but, 
nothing  daunted,  he  struck  at  the  foremost  canoe  with  his 
powerful  fore  feet,  which  was  stove  in  by  the  force  of  the 
blow,  and  immediately  filled.  But  the  boat  being  tilled 
with  squaws  who  could  all  swim  nearly  as  well  as  himself 
no  alarm  or  confusion  was  caused  by  the  accident ;  and,  as 
he  came  on,  he  was  again  met  by  the  second  canoe  with 
such  rapid  and  energetic  blows,  that,  what  with  the  blows, 
and  the  screams,  and  shouts  from  the  entire  party,  he  was 
forced  to  make  for  the  shore,  where  he  was  soon  de- 
spatched.    The  squaws  who  had   been   thrown  into  the 


376  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

water  refused  to  be  taken  into  the  other  boats,  for  fear 
they,  too,  might  be  upset,  and  so  swam  after  the  canoes  of 
their  companions  to  the  shore.  After  resting  themselves 
a  few  minutes,  they  reentered  their  canoes  and  started  for 
the  village,  all  highly  delighted  with  the  day's  sports. 
Rozella  and  the  Tufton  girls  were  so  fascinated  with  what 
they  had  seen  and  by  the  kindness  with  which  they  had 
been  treated  that  they  were  almost  in  love  with  Indian 
life  ;  and  Owega  seemed  almost  crazy  with  delight.  But 
when  they  came  in  sight  of  the  village,  and  saw  the  scalps 
of  the  English  soldiers  still  hanging  upon  the  poles  around 
the  wigwams,  they  for  the  first  time  during  the  day  felt 
themselves  among  their  enemies  and  realized  that  they 
were  prisoners. 

When  Kozella  returned  to  her  own  lodge  she  found 
Elsie  much  better,  and  eager,  together  with  the  other  cap- 
tives, to  hear  a  recital  of  the  day's  sport.  After  this  was 
detailed,  a  portion  of  the  fish  which  had  been  taken  and 
had  been  generously  presented  them  by  the  young  squaws 
was  cooked,  and  the  evening  was  passed  quite  pleasantly 
in  discussions  of  the  Indian  character,  and  particularly 
whether  it  was  possible  for  him  to  be  civilized  and  lose 
that  terrible  thirst  for  blood  which  seemed  one  of  the 
very  instincts  of  his  nature. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


Route  of  the  Mountain  Rangers.  —  Conversation  among  the  Offi- 
cers.—  Ghost  Story  by  English. — Proceedings  after  the  Bat- 
tle  OF   TlCONDEROGA. 


But  September  has  come  with  its  clouds  and  storms, 
and  the  green  leaves  are  beginning  to  lose  their  summer 
bloom,  and  to  turn  pale  with  fear  or  red  with  anger  at 
his  approach. 

The  Mountain  Rangers  of  Laconia  had  scarcely  lost 
sight  of  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  ere  Captain  Waldron  gave 
the  order  for  the  music  to  cease  ;  and  the  shrill  notes  of  the 
fife  and  the  quick  rat-tat-tat  of  the  drum  were  only  heard  in 
the  wild  echoes  that  rung  back  from  the  distant  hillside 
and  died  away  in  faint  whispers  in  the  grassy  vale  below. 
Orders  were  then  given  for  an  irregular  march  ;  and,  as 
the  sections  broke  up,  each  soldier  picked  his  way  along  the 
muddy  road  as  best  he  might  and  selected  such  compan- 
ions as  he  chose.  Lieutenant  Gridley  hurried  from  the 
rear  and  overtook  Ensign  Walcott,  and  both  increased 
their  pace  until  they  came  up  with  Captain  Waldron, 
when  a  brisk  conversation  commenced  upon  the  prospects 
of  the  approaching  struggle  and  the  nature  of  the  assist- 
ance they  were  to  receive  from  the  English  army. 

"  I  really  hope,"  said  Waldron,  "  that  Amherst  will  do 
better  service  than  Commodore  Warren  did  at  Cape 
32  *  (377) 


378  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

Breton,  or  we  might  as  well  be  without  his  command  and 
counsel." 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  Gridley ;  "  for  it  seems  to  me  it  is 
quite  enough  for  the  inferior  officers  and  soldiers  to  do 
the  fighting,  without  having  to  lay  the  plans  for  the  attack, 
and  especially  to  be  obliged  to  alter,  in  the  very  heat  of 
the  battle,  the  whole  arrangement  of  the  half-digested 
scheme,  as  we  did  at  Cape  Breton." 

"I  tell  you  what  it  is,  boys — ah,  excuse  me,  gentlemen 
officers,"  said  Walcott,  touching  the  rim  of  his  hat  and 
twisting  up  the  corners  of  his  eyes,  "  we  have  got  a  great 
deal  of  hard  fighting  before  us  ;  but,  then,  by  the  planets 
in  which  Ludeman,  the  learned  astrologer  of  Holland, 
read  our  future  destiny,  we  have  victory  and  glory  before 
us  ;  and  there  are  other  objects  worth  fighting  for  which 
the  astrologer  knew  not  of." 

?  True,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "  and,  if  we  are  so  fortunate 
as  to  gain  these  objects,  I  rather  think  we  shall  not  give 
them  up  so  readily  as  the  ministers  of  the  crown  did  the 
hard-won  fortress  of  Louisburg  at  the  treaty  of  Aix-la- 
Chapelle." 

"Yes,  yes,  gentlemen,"  answered  Gridley;  "you  nave 
got  something  to  fight,  and  fight  for,  now,  besides  fogs." 

"  Yes,  ghosts,"  replied  Walcott,  as  they  all  laughed  at 
the  recollection  of  the  remark  of  Comical  Plump,  that  two 
of  the  officers  were  in  love  with  ghosts  and  one  with  a  shad- 
ow ;  "  so  it  seems  yours  are  but '  foggy  subjects/  after  all." 

And  they  again  broke  out  into  laughter,  in  which  George 
English,  who  just  then  rode  up,  joined  with  a  good  grace 
and  a  hearty  will. 

"  And  what  about  this  shadowy  lady?  "  asked  English, 
as  he  dismounted  to  give  Captain  Waldron  a  chance  to 
ride,  and  grasping  the  arm  of  Gridley  as  he  spoke. 

"  She  was  a  mysterious  lady,"  replied  Gridley,  "  whom 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  379 

we  saw  at  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell  on  the  night  of 
our  return  from  the  war.  We  at  first  thought  her  an  ap- 
prentice of  old  Dolly  Plot ;  and,  though  we  could  not  but 
be  struck  with  her  wonderful  beaut)r,  no  particular  atten- 
tion was  paid  to  her  ;  but  we  subsequently  ascertained 
that  she  had  no  connection  with  the  other  inmates  of  the 
house,  but  had  applied  to  old  Dolly,  as  a  stranger,  for  a 
night's  lodging,  and  was  in  all  probability  as  pure  and  in- 
nocent as  she  was  beautiful  and  attractive.  While  en- 
gaged in  enlisting  our  soldiers  for  this  expedition  we 
made  diligent  soarch  for  her,  but  to  no  purpose ;  nor  has 
she  since  been  heard  of." 

"  It  is  indeed  mysterious,"  rejoined  English. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Gridley  ;  "  and  I  have  hunted  through 
all  the  vacant  houses  in  the  settlement  from  garret  to  cel- 
lar, searched  the  woods  and  the  mountains  for  miles,  and 
made  inquiries  in  all  the  adjacent  towns,  but  can  obtain 
no  trace  of  her." 

"  Well,  let  her  go,"  said  English.  "  Who  cares  for  any 
one  woman,  Mr.  Gridley,  if  she  is  handsome?" 

The  lieutenant  stopped  short,  and,  looking  English  full 
in  the  face,  and  at  the  same  time  disengaging  his  arm,  re- 
peated, — 

"Let  her  go,  Mr.  English?  Who  cares  for  any  one 
woman  ?  Mr.  English,  my  name,  sir,  is  Grizzly  Gridley  — 
Lieutenant  Grizzly  Gridley,  sir,  at  your  service.  I  am 
grizzly  in  name  as  well  as  in  hair  and  beard  ;  and  perhaps 
a  young  lady  so  refined  and  cultivated  as  she  whom  I  seek 
must  be  might  not  accept  me  for  a  husband  ;  but,  sir,  I 
wish  you  to  understand  that  Grizzly  Gridley  would  not 
only  fight  fogs  and  ghosts  to  win  her,  but  grizzly  bears, 
sir,  could  he  only  hear  her  say,  •  The  mystery  is  solved, 
and  I  am  thine,  and  thine  only.'  When,  sir,  you  came  to 
our  place  of  rendezvous  this  morning  you  were  welcomed 
with  earnest  and  sincere  cordiality,  not  only  for  the  wel- 


380  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

come  news  you  brought  us,  but  for  your  gallant  bearing 
and  prepossessing  appearance  ;  and  you  offered  your  ser- 
vices as  a  volunteer  to  our  band,  and  was  warmly  re- 
ceived as  a  desirable  acquisition  to  our  ranks  ;  but,  sir," 
continued  Gridley,  throwing  his  head  back  and  fixing  a 
stern  look  upon  English,  "  I  would  have  you  understand 
that  you  must  not,  in  my  presence,  speak  disrespectfully 
of  this  mysterious  lady,  or  shadowy  lady  as  you  are 
pleased  to  term  her/ nor  use  in  reference  to  her  any  such 
loose  language  as  '  Let  her  go  —  who  cares  for  any  one 
woman  V" 

"  I  beg  a  thousand  pardons,  lieutenant,"  replied  English. 
"  I  certainly  meant  no  disrespect  to  the  lady." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  the  lieutenant  ;  u  I  accept  your 
apology,  and  presume  we  shall  have  no  more  trouble  about 
the  matter." 

And  they  both  started  along  to  overtake  the  other 
soldiers,  who  had  all  passed  them. 

"  I  wish,"  said  English,  "  you  would  give  me  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  young  lady  of  whom  we  have  been  speaking, 
if  you  do  not  consider  my  request  too  presumptuous." 

';  I  would  do  so  with  pleasure,"  replied  Gridley,  "  if  it 
were  in  my  power  ;  but  you  might  as  well  ask  me  to  de- 
scribe a  sunbeam.  Her  eyes  were  never  matched  by  any  I 
ever  saw  in  the  head  of  a  human  being,  and  in  color 
were  not  unlike  your  own,  but  of  ineffable  lustre,  and 
seemingly  of  an  unfathomable  depth  of  tenderness  and 
expression  ;  and  in  her  cheeks  the  rose  and  lily  blended 
in  such  exquisite  tints  as  no  pencil  save  that  of  Nature  ever 
yet  combined.  She  was  dressed  in  a  long  travelling  habit 
over  au  under  skirt,  which  hung  loose  from  her  polished 
shoulders  ;  for,  in  her  haste  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the 
disturbance,  she  had  not  stopped  to  fasten  it ;  and  she 
held  in  her  hand  a  little  silver  candlestick,  in  which  was  a 
lighted  wax  candle  ;    and   even   that  little  candlestick, 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  381 

strange  as  it  may  seem,  is  nowhere  to  be  found,  nor  is  any- 
other  trace  of  her  visible,  and  not  even  the  bed  in  the 
room  she  occupied  seemed  to  hav*e  been  disturbed." 

"A  ghost!  a  ghost!  lieutenant,"  cried,  English  ;  "and 
Comical  Plump  might  have  said  three  ghosts  instead 
of  two." 

"  I  thought  it  might  possibly  be  one  myself,"  replied 
Gridley,  "  and  divulged  my  suspicions  to  one  Dolly  Plot, 
whom  we  drove  from  the  squire's  house  at  the  time,  and 
who  was  supposed  to  be  intimate  with  ghosts ;  but  when  I 
paid  her  liberally  to  tell  me  all  she  knew  in  relation  to 
her,  she  said  that  she  was  no  ghost,  for  she  had  taken  her 
by  the  hand,  and  a  softer,  warmer  hand,  and  a  more  ex- 
quisitely moulded  arm,  she  never  laid  eyes  on." 

"  Mysterious  indeed  !  "  repeated  English. 

"  Indeed  it  is,"  replied  the  lieutenant. 

Captain  Waldron,  who  during  the  above  conversation 
had  been  riding  in  front  of  the  Rangers,  now  halted  till 
the  others  came  up,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  up  his  horse 
to  its  owner,  who  thereupon  very  politely  tendered  the 
use  of  it  to  Gridley.  Gridley  very  politely  accepted  the 
offer,  and,  as  he  mounted,  remarked  to  English  that  his 
portmanteau  was  so  large  he  would  advise  that  it  be 
placed  in  the  baggage  wagon  in  the  rear.  But  English 
objected,  saying  that  his  horse  was  well  able  to  carry  it ; 
that  the  wagon  was  already  sufficiently  loaded  ;  and,  be- 
sides, he  might  wish  to  take  His  horse  much  farther  than 
they  would  proceed  with  the  wagon.  So  Gridley  rode 
ahead ;  and  Captain  Waldron  and  George  English  took 
up  the  same  topic  of  conversation  which  was  so  lately  dis- 
cussed by  the  latter  and  Gridley. 

"The  lieutenant  thinks  her  extremely  handsome,"  ob- 
served English,  after  a  few  preliminary  remarks  relative 
to  the  mysterious  lady. 

"  And  so,  indeed,  she  was,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "  and  I 


382  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

think  she  was  the  most  beautiful  woman,  save  one,  I  ever 
saw." 

"And  who  may  the  exception  be?  "  asked  English. 

"  The  lovely  Queen  of  the  Forest,"  answered  Waldron. 

"  And  what  is  her  name  ?  "  pursued  English. 

"  Rozella  Langdell,  to  be  sure,"  answered  Waldron,  "  for 
whose  liberation  and  that  of  her  affectionate  parents  we 
have  enlisted.  And  although  the  people  of  the  settlements 
may  think  the  love  of  country  the  chief  motive  of  our  enter- 
prise, I  am  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  we  love  our 
'  queen '  better  than  we  do  our  country.  And  if  Heaven 
smiles  upon  our  expedition,  we  shall  not  come  back  until 
she  is  released  from  the  jaws  of  the  red  wolves  (if  indeed 
she  be  still  alive,  which  may  Heaven  grant)  and  returns 
with  us." 

"  May  Heaven  smile,  then,"  cried  English,  warmly  ;  "  for 
I  should  be  glad  to  witness  the  happy  meeting  between  two 
long-separated  hearts  which  are  in  reality  but  one." 

"  If  such  be  your  wish,"  cried  the  captain,  "  you  will 
have  to  station  yourself  in  the  front  ranks  where  the  bat- 
tle fire  blazes  hottest." 

"  And  I  shall  be  there,"  replied  English,  "  if  I  am  not 
shot  down  before  I  reach  that  position.  But  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  lovely  land  of  Laconia,  as  you  call  it,  abounds 
in  beautiful  ladies,  if  all  the  officers  are  as  deeply  enam- 
oured as  yourself." 

"  But,"  responded  Waldron,  "  neither  Laconia  nor  any 
other  land  has  a  daughter  so  fair,  so  pure,  or  so  angelic  as 
Rozella  Langdell." 

"  It  is  rarely  the  case,"  observed  English,  "  that  sterling 
goodness  of  heart  underlies  so  beautiful  and  perfect  an 
exterior  as  is  represented  to  be  possessed  by  the  lady  in 
question." 

"  True,"  returned  Waldron,  "and,  therefore,  when  we  do 
find  an  angel  heart  enveloped  in  an  angel  form,  it  is  worth 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  383 

fighting  for,  and,  if  needs  be,  dying  for.  And  I  am  ready 
and  willing  to  do  either  or  both  for  Rozella,  in  whom 
purity  of  heart  and  symmetry  of  form  are  so  intimately 
blended  as  to  form  a  perfect  specimen  of  womanhood." 

At  this  stage  of  the  conversation  they  were  joined  by 
Ensign  Walcott,  who,  overhearing  the  last  few  sentences 
of  their  discourse,  informed  English  that  he  had  not  heard 
all  the  charms  and  graces  set  forth  which  once  adorned  the 
fair  land  of  Laconia ;  for  although  he  did  not  claim  for 
Elsie  Tufton  all  the  beauty,  purity,  and  grace  there  were  in 
the  whole  world,  yet  no  more  faithful  heart  ever  beat  in  a 
true  woman's  breast,  in  Laconia  or  out  of  it,  than  in  her 
own.  And  although  he  would  agree  with  Captain  Wal- 
dron  in  all  that  he  could  possibly  say  in  regard  to  the 
angelic  purity  and  loveliness  of  Rozella,  and  with  Grizzly 
Gridley  in  the  marvellous  beauty  and  untarnished  innocence 
of  his  mysterious  ideal,  yet  for  his  part  he  would  not  ex- 
change the  affectionate  and  truehearted  Elsie  for  both. 
"And,"  continued  he, "  as  Captain  Waldron  has  pledged  him- 
self to  deliver  Rozella  or  perish  in  the  attempt,  I  also  pledge 
myself  to  rescue  Elsie  or  die  at  her  feet.  Should  I  succeed, 
I  shall  plead  my  cause  before  her  and  tell  her  all  I  have 
dared  and  suffered  in  her  behalf ;  and,  if  I  should  be  so  un- 
fortunate as  to  have  my  suit  refused,  never  again  shall  I 
set  foot  in  the  loved  and  lovely  Laconia." 

The  conversation  then  turned  upon  the  prospects  of  a 
victory  under  the  leadership  of  Amherst,  the  new  settle- 
ments which  were  being  made,  and  the  future  prospects  of 
the  country.  As  the  company  approached  the  new  settle- 
ments, the  inhabitants  brought  out  all  they  had  in  their 
houses  for  them  to  eat,  and  especially,  as  was  the  custom 
of  those  days,  all  they  could  raise  that  was  considered 
good  to  drink.  The  soldiers  did  not  fail  to  do  justice  to 
these  "  creature  comforts,"  and  when  night  overtook  them 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Merrimac  they  were  as  jolly  a  set 


384:  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

of  soldiers  as  ever  buckled  on  a  knapsack  or  shouldered 
a  gun.  The  tents  were  now  pitched  for  the  night,  the 
camp  fires  lighted,  and  the  supper  despatched  ;  after  which, 
the  jovial  crew,  being  chock  full  of  patriotism  and  prowess, 
love  and  liquor,  began  to  sing  songs  and  tell  stories  of  the 
most  inspiring  and  marvellous  character.  Each  sung  a 
song  or  told  a  story  until  it  came  to  the  turn  of  English, 
who  at  first  declined  ;  but  upon  being  assured  that  all  the 
company,  both  men  and  officers,  were  expected  to  do  one 
or  the  other,  he  finally  consented. 

"  I  will  relate,"  said  he,  "  a  short  story  of  the  ghosts  of 
Benefice  Castle." 

"  0,"  shouted  the  whole  company,  "  a  ghost  story  here  in 
the  wild  woods,  around  the  camp  fires,  would  be  just  th< 
thing." 

"  The  ghosts  of  Benefice  Castle,"  observed  Captain  Wal- 
dron  ;  "  we  want  the  old  castle  to  make  it  go  down  smooth. 
Mr.  Marine  Lee  could  tell  us  that." 

"  Yes,"  said  Gridley,  "  we  want  one  that  will  tell  on  the 
imagination  ;  and,  as  Mr.  English  has  no*  heard  the  story 
of  the  Phantom  Ship,  we  will  ask  Marine  Lee  to  repeat 
that  afterw  rds." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Lee  ;  and  Mr.  English  commenced 
his  story. 

"  Benefice  Castle,  so  called  from  the  numerous  benefits 
conferred  by  its  former  occupant  and  owner  upon  all  in 
its  vicinity  or  who  sought  shelter  beneath  its  hospitable 
roof,  was  situated  near  a  small  river,  not  many  leagues 
from  the  sea  shore,  in  one  of  the  eastern  counties  of  Eng- 
land. It  was  built  of  wood,  and  was  reckoned,  according 
to  the  taste  of  that  day,  a  very  creditable  specimen  of 
the  then  prevailing  style  of  architecture.  It  stood  upon 
a  commanding  and  delightful  site,  surrounded  by  gardens 
and  orchards ;  while  around  it  stretched  the  broad  lands 
of  its  owner,  watered  by  rippling  brooks  and  shaded  by 


LEGENDS   OP   LAOONIA.  385 

tall  and  stately  trees.  One  night,  late  in  autumn,  loud 
shrieks  and  wailing  cries  of  terror  and  despair  were 
heard  issuing  from  "its  precincts;  but  no  one  dared  ap- 
proach until  the  following  morning,  when  it  was  found 
empty  and  deserted.  Every  living  soul  had  disappeared  ; 
but  whether  they  had  been  slain  by  murderous  assassins 
and  their  bodies  secreted,  or  spirited  away  by  foul  and 
malignant  spirits,  it  was  impossible  to  tell.  The  castle 
was  searched  from  top  to  bottom,  and  the  cellar  thoroughly 
and  minutely  scrutinized,  to  ascertain  if  their  remains  had 
been  concealed  or  buried  therein  ;  but  no  stone  of  the 
walls  seemed  to  have  been  displaced,  and  the  gravelly  bot- 
tom had  been  evidently  undisturbed  for  years.  After  thi3 
event,  the  castle,  as  well  as  every  thing  about  it,  soon  fell 
into  ruinous  decay,  and  was  shunned  by  those  even  who 
once  delighted  to  assemble  within  its  hospitable  walls. 
Strange  and  unearthly  noises  were  heard  at  night,  echoing 
through  its  spacious  chambers,  and  peals  of  wild  and 
maniac  laughter  rang  out  upon  the  still  air  ;  while  fierce 
animals  and  all  manner  of  unclean  birds  and  reptiles 
seemed  to  throng  its  open  portals.  It  so  happened  that  a 
party  of  soldiers  not  unlike  ourselves,  who  were  returning 
to  their  homes  from  distant  and  hard-fought  battle  fields, 
reached  the  castle  just  after  nightfall,  and,  being  wearied 
and  fatigued  by  their  long  march,  resolved,  in  spite  of 
ghosts,  to  enter  and  pass  the  night.  As  they  turned  to  the 
chief  entrance  a  brilliant  light  gleamed  from  the  windows, 
and  merry  voices  were  heard  within,  which  fell  upon  their 
entranced  ears  like  the  very  harmonies  of  love.  They  did 
not  hesitate  long,  but  courageously  struck  upon  the  great 
hall  door,  which  instantly,  and  as  if  of  its  own  accord, 
flew  wide  open,  and  beings,  as  they  seemed  to  their  enrap- 
tured gaze,  of  the  most  transcendent  loveliness  tripped  out 
to  meet  and  welcome  them.  Though,  as  yet,  all  was  dark- 
ness within,  —  for  at  their  entrance  the  lights  all  disap- 
33 


386  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

peared,  —  yet  the  transported  soldiers,  finding  themselves  in 
the  warm  and  friendly  embrace  of  beings  who  seemed  any 
thing  but  ghosts,  were  so  completely  enraptured  by  their 
cordial  welcomes  and  thrilling  caresses  as  to  lay  aside  all 
caution  or  reserve  ;  and,  pressing  them  to  their  panting  bos- 
oms, they  took  long  draughts  of  intoxicating  smiles  from 
their  ruby  lips  ;  assured  them  that,  of  all  created  beings, 
they  were  the  most  beautiful ;  and  pledged  them  their  un- 
ceasing love  and  everlasting  fidelity.  While  the  soldiers 
were  yet  upon  their  bended  knees,  pledging  and  receiving 
pledges  of  never-ending  devotion,  and  the  very  atmos- 
phere around  seemed  redolent  of  love,  all  at  once  an 
angel  of  light  seemed  to  descend  from  above,  bearing  aloft 
a  brilliant  wand  of  fire,  whose  radiance  seemed  to  illumine 
the  castle  with  all  the  splendor  of  the  bright  orb  of  day. 
She  appeared  to  the  astonished  eyes  of  the  soldiers  to  be  a 
thousand  times  more  beautiful  than  any  human  being  they 
had  ever  seen  or  dreamed  of. 

"  At  her  advent,  the  lovely  creatures  who  had  been  so 
warmly  saluted  by  their  soldier  lovers  suddenly  disap- 
peared, and  foul  and  frightful  spectres  of  hideous  form 
and  repulsive  mien  as  suddenly  took  their  places.  So  aw- 
fully terrible  and  repulsive  was  their  appearance  that  the 
brave  soldiers,  who  had  walked  undaunted  through  seas 
of  blood  and  looked  calmly  upon  vast  fields  of  ghastly 
corpses,  now  quailed  before  these  loathsome  creatures, 
and  staggered  back  from  their  embrace  in  mingled  horror 
and  disgust.  At  this  the  grim  spectres  seemed  enraged 
beyond  measure,  and  the  soldiers  fancied  they  could  see 
glowing  sparks  of  fire  leaping  from  their  fingers'  ends  ;  and 
anon  they  took  the  shape  of  old  creatures,  whose  fiery 
faces  burned  with  wrath  from  beneath  their  monstrous  caps 
as  they  grinned  and  chattered  at  their  affrighted  guests. 
Lurid  flames  of  fire  darted  from  their  mouths,  while  their 
eyes  glared  with  fury,  and  their  long  fangs  gnashed  to- 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  387 

gether  like  the  jaws  of  a  tiger.  Huge  giants  of  enormous 
height  strode  through  the  castle,  and  deformed  and  un- 
couth monsters  with  two  faces  scowled  malignantly  upon 
them,  seemingly  intoxicated,  not  only  with  rage  and  fury, 
but  with  that  infernal  draught  prepared  from  the  coiling 
folds  of  the  snaky  'worm  of  the  still.'  The  soldiers  now 
summoned  up  all  their  resolution,  and,  drawing  their  swords, 
rushed  to  the  conflict.  As  they  saw  the  flash  of  the  gleam- 
ing steel  cutting  the  air  in  wavy  circles,  the  spectral  crew 
bounded  back,  and,  amid  the  crash  of  falling  chairs,  tables, 
and  doors,  swept  from  the  haunted  castle  with  screams 
more  deafening  than  a  chorus  of  a  thousand  furies,  and  disap- 
peared in  the  surrounding  darkness.  The  soldiers,  awed 
and  terror  stricken  at  the  thought  of  having  been  engaged 
in  such  a  contest  with  the  *  powers  of  darkness/  now 
staggered  from  the  castle,  weak  and  trembling,  and  sought 
refuge  in  the  neighboring  houses.  But  scarcely  would  they 
close  their  eyes  when  the  images  of  their  infernal  foes 
seemed  to  rise  before  them,  peering  with  diabolical  malice 
into  their  faces  and  hissing  words  of  horrid  anathemas  into 
their  unwilling  ears  until  they  cried  out  in  extreme  ter- 
ror and  groaned  aloud  in  utter  agony.  But,  ere  long, 
these  unwelcome  visitants  vanished,  and  the  graceful  forms 
of  the  beautiful  beings  they  had  first  seen  came  before 
them  in  all  their  transcendent  loveliness.  Thus  the  night 
passed  ;  and  the  next  morning  the  soldiers  soon  rid  them- 
selves of  the  spell  cast  around  them  by  the  evil  spirits  ; 
but  the  enchantment  of  those  they  had  first  met  was  not 
so  easily  shaken  off.  Half  beside  themselves  with  the 
frenzy  of  their  passion,  they  conferred  together  to  devise 
ways  and  means  of  finding  the  lost  loveliness  and  perfec- 
tion they  so  much  admired  ;  and,  while  in  grand  conclave, 
an  oddly-shaped,  rusty  little  key,  small  yet  strong,  came 
tumbling  among  them.  A  ghostly  key  it  must  have  been  ; 
for  it  raised  itself  upright  and  said  in  a  strange  but  firm 


388  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

tone,  ■  I  can  unlock  the  mystery  which  so  perplexes  you, 
and  bring  your  fairy  idols  to  you,  or  conduct  you  to  them.' 
The  soldiers  only  sneered  at  the  little  rusty  key,  and 
kicked  it  from  their  midst  in  utter  disdain.  At  this  unkind 
repulse  of  its  proffered  services,  the  little  key,  seemingly 
more  crooked  than  before,  replied  in  a  sad  voice,  '  Al- 
though my  body  is  short,  my  back  crooked,  and  my  shoul- 
ders somewhat  deformed,  yet  I  can  turn  as  large  a  bolt  as 
longer  and  more  elegantly-shaped  keys,  and  have  half  a 
mind  to  turn  a  double  one  against  yourselves  ;  yet,  for  the 
sake  of  those  you  seek  and  whose  humble  servant  I  am, 
I'll  disregard  this  insult ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that, 
rusty  and  odd  as  I  look,  I  shall  reach  their  presence, 
where  you  will  beg  of  me  to  admit  you.' 

"  Gentlemen,"  continued  English,  "  my  ghost  story  is 
finished  ;  but  it,  too,  has  a  key  to  its  mysteries,  which,  if 
Fortune  smiles  upon  the  gallant  Mountain  Rangers  of 
Laconia,  I  will  in  due  time  present  you." 

"  Don't,  for  mercy's  sake,  ever  speak  of  it  again,"  groaned 
a  dozen  voices  ;  and  as  English  turned  to  observe  what 
effect  his  story  had  produced  upon  the  soldiers,  what  was 
his  surprise  to  find  the  few  that  had  sufficient  courage  to 
hear  its  conclusion  all  staring  at  him  in  utter  astonish- 
ment and  dismay,  as  if  he  himself  were  a  veritable  ghost,  or 
a  conjurer  at  the  very  least.  Lieutenant  Gridley  was 
crouching  in  a  fir  tree  ;  Captain  Waldron  and  about  a 
dozen  others  had  crawled  into  one  of  the  baggage  wagons  ; 
and  nothing  was  visible  of  them  save  their  boots,  as  they 
protruded  from  its  rear  ;  while  Coffin  and  Marine  Lee  were 
cowering  behind  a  large  tree  and  shaking  as  if  in  an  ague  fit. 

"  Now,"  cried  English,  pretending  not  to  notice  the 
panic  his  story  had  occasioned,  "  where  is  Mr.  Lee  ?  I 
wish  to  hear  about  the  Phantom  Ship." 

"  No,  no,"  cried  the  captain,  as  he  added,' "  I  forbid  the 
telling  of  any  more  ghost  stories  during  the  remainder  of. 
our  campaign." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  389 

"  Now,"  said  Gridley,  "  I  move  we  take  another  stiff  horn, 
to  keep  them  off.'' 

This  was  agreed  to,  nem.  con.;  so  the  soldiers  all  drank 
a  brimming  cup,  to  keep  their  courage  up  and  the  ghost 
down.  But  although  they  took  more  than  their  accus- 
tomed allowance,  in  order  that  they  might  sleep  the  more 
soundly,  yet  the  effect  produced  was,  as  we  shall  soon  see, 
quite  different  from  that  anticipated.  All  then,  save  four 
men,  who  were  posted  as  sentries,  retired  to  their  blankets, 
and  soon  all  was  still.  Ere  long  the  loud  "  who  "  of  an 
owl  resounded  from  the  branches  of  a  tree  above  their 
heads. 

"  Not  I  —  not  I,"  responded  the  snoring  soldiers. 

"  Keep  him  off,  sentinel,  for  mercy's  sake ! "  groaned 
Walcott. 

"  The  beautiful  ghost  —  the  mysterious  lady  ;  let  her 
in  !  "  cried  Gridley. 

"  No  !  no  !  "  shouted  Walcott  ;  "  don't  you  do  it." 

But  the  report  of  the  soldier's  gun  which  brought  the 
owl  down  brought  also  the  soldiers  up  upon  their  feet 
awake  again. 

George  English  alone  of  the  whole  company  seemed  to 
have  slept  soundly  ;  but  the  others,  among  whom  was 
even  Marine  Lee,  who  was  familiar  with  ghost  stories, 
declared  they  had  not  slept  a  wink,  and  attributed  this 
result  to  the  ghost  story  of  George  English,  which  they 
said  had  so  much  mystery  about  it  that  they  could  not 
shake  it  off,  but  could  still   feel  it  in  their  very  bones. 

"  I  say,  captain,"  exclaimed  Wiley  Walcott,  while  Eng- 
lish still  slept,  and  after  the  effects  of  the  night's  carousal 
had  passed  off,  "  this  George  English  is  rather  a  queer 
soldier  —  eh  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  captain,  "  there  are  some  queer 
points  about  him  ;  but  he  is  so  choice  in  his  use  of  words, 
33* 


390  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

and  has  so  clear  and  acute  a  mind  withal,  that  he  must  bo 
ranked  as  a  decidedly  superior  man." 

"  And,"  remarked  Walcott,  "  he  must  have  been  in  the 
field  before.  He  is  brave  too  ;  for  he  seems  more  anxious 
to  get  to  the  scene  of  action  than  any  of  us  ;  but  his  am- 
bition is  not  inordinate ;  for  when  we  offered  to  give  up 
our  commissions  in  his  favor  he  courteously  but  firmly  re- 
fused our  offers.  Bejng  a  stranger  here,  and  having  nei- 
ther land  nor  love  to  fight  for,  he  has  chosen  the  Mountain 
Rangers  for  his  companions  in  arms  in  preference  to  the 
king's  regular  forces,  who  were  trained  under  the  brave 
Amherst,  which  is  enough  in  itself  to  entitle  him  to  our 
regard." 

"  And  one  other  little  item,"  said  Gridley,  as  he  joined 
the  group,  "  is,  that  he  is  the  handsomest  man  I  ever  saw 
in  this  country  or  any  other." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "  that  is  acknowledged 
on  all  hands." 

"  And  now,"  resumed  Gridley,  "  I  will  tell  you  another 
thing  ;  and  that  is  in  relation  to  my  fears  on  this  point." 

"  Aha ! "  cried  Waldron,  with  a  sudden  start ;  "  I  can 
read  them." 

"  And  so  can  I,"  added  Walcott ;  "  but  go  on." 

"  That  was  one  reason  why  I  talked  to  him  so  impu- 
dently when,  referring  to  the  mysterious  lady,  he  said, 
4  Let  her  go  —  who  cares  for  any  one  woman  V  I  in- 
tended to  make  him  angry,  in  the  hope  that,  in  that  event, 
he  would  leave  us,  and  thus  we  should  get  rid  of  him  ;  but 
he  apologized  so  frankly  and  in  such  a  gentlemanly  way 
that  my  lance  was  broken,  and  I  gave  up  the  idea  of  fur- 
ther contention.  My  reason  for  wishing  to  get  rid  of  him 
was  this  :  I  feared  that,  in  case  we  were  successful  in  re- 
capturing Rozella  and  Elsie,  and  they  got  but  one  glance 
of  that  finely-chiselled  face  and  elegant  form,  it  would  be 
a  hopeless  case  for  one  of  you." 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  391 

*  It  is  the  same  thing  I  had  supposed,"  replied  Waldron, 
thoughtfully,  "  and  about  which  I  have  been  troubled  ever 
since  we  started." 

"  My  case  precisely,"  groaned  the  ensign  ;  "  but,  though 
I  will  risk  all  the  harm  he  can  do  in  the  captain's  case, 
since  the  bargain  is  made  and  published  to  the  world,  yet 
when  I  think,  Gridley,  of  my  danger,  I  tremble  for  the 
result." 

"  I  don't  know  about  the  propriety  of  excepting  the  cap- 
tain's case,"  returned  Gridley  ;  "  for  if  Rozella  should 
happen  to  give  the  captain  the  slip  in  this  case,  I  don't 
know  as  I  should  blame  her  much  ;  for,  if  I  were  a  lady,  I 
should  certainly  prefer  George  English  to  any  other  man 
I  ever  saw." 

"  But,"  said  Captain  Waldron,  "  we  must  not  be  too  sus- 
picious of  Mr.  English  ;  for  it  may  be  he  is  already  be- 
trothed to  some  fair  lady  as  handsome  and  winning  as 
himself." 

"  If  such  be  the  case,"  replied  Walcott,  "  we  can  easily 
detect  it  ;  or,  at  any  rate,  it  will  be  no  very  hazardous 
matter  to  make  the  attempt,  which  we  will  do  as  soon  as 
we  have  a  convenient  opportunity." 

But  fighting  soon  put  an  end  to  jealousy. 

But  four  days  after  the  above  conversation  the  Moun- 
tain Rangers,  with  full  ranks  and  in  high  spirits,  marched 
into  Number  Four  (Charlestown)  to  the  merry  music  of 
the  fife  and  drum.  They  were  received  with  great  parade 
and  ceremony  by  Colonel  Lovewell,  who  was  then  com- 
mander of  the  New  Hampshire  forces.  His  army  con- 
sisted of  a  thousand  soldiers,  all  hale  and  hearty  men,  and 
able  and  willing  to  do  good  service  in  the  cause  of  their 
king  and  country.  His  men  had  just  risen  from  their 
breakfast,  and  were  immediately  paraded  to  receive  the 
Mountain  Rangers  with  suitable  military  honors,  to  which, 


392  LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA. 

in  the  opinion  of  Colonel  Lovewell,  their  previous  services 
justly  entitled  them.  After  a  cordial  welcome  by  Colonel 
Lovewell  and  an  appropriate  reply  from  Captain  Wal- 
dron,  breakfast  was  served  in  the  large  dining  tent,  after 
which  a  little  of  the  "  soldiers'  joy  "  was  placed  upon  the 
table,  and  toasts  and  healths  were  the  order  of  the  day. 

George  English,  in  consideration  of  the  enthusiastic 
ardor  with  which  he  had  volunteered,  had  during  the 
Thole  march  been  treated  more  as  a  guest  than  as  a 
soldier  ;  and,  as  such,  Gridley  ventured  to  propose  his 
health,  together  with  that  of  the  fair  lady  he  had  doubt- 
less chosen  to  be  his  wife.  English  briefly  thanked  the 
lieutenant  for  the  honor  shown  him,  but  made  no  reference 
to  the  second  clause  of  the  toast ;  and,  in  return,  proposed 
the  health  of  the  lieutenant  and  the  mysterious  lady,  who 
he  doubted  not  would  one  day  be  his  wife.  This  reply 
produced  a  decided  sensation  among  the  company  and 
rather  turned  the  tables  on  the  lieutenant,  who  was  thus 
skilfully  defeated  at  his  own  game. 

The  drum  now  beat  the  roll  call,  and  the  colonel  gave 
orders  that  the  Mountain  Rangers  should  take  their  posi- 
tion on  the  extreme  right,  as  the  post  of  honor.  The 
army  was  then  put  in  motion,  and  soon  came  to  the  lovely 
Connecticut,  whose  waters  seemed  to  dance  in  a  thousand 
wavy  rings  and  circles,  as  if  to  welcome  their  approach. 
Crossing  the  river,  they  found  themselves  in  what  is  now 
termed  the  Green  Mountain  State,  a  land  which  grows 
11  fair  women  and  brave  men  "  as  naturally  as  it  does  fine- 
wooled  sheep  and  Morgan  horses.  They  passed  on  through 
the  dense  woods  and  over  the  swelling  hills  until  they 
came  to  the  mountains,  where  the  country  was  much  wilder 
than  the  region  they  had  lately  left ;  and,  as  there  were 
no  roads,  they  were  obliged,  in  order  to  transport  their 
baggage  and  provisions,  to  fell  trees  and  dig  up  or  blast 
rocks  in  order  to  gain  a  pass.     Hard  and  tedious  was  the 


LEGENDS   OP    LACONIA.  .      393 

march ;  but  their  hopes,  loftier  than  the  trees,  and  their 
wills,  stronger  than  the  rocks,  knew  not  the  feeling  of  dis- 
couragement ;  and  the  bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  deer  were 
levelled  by  the  musket  as  were  the  trees  by  the  axe.  Nor 
were  all  the  hordes  of  howling  and  ferocious  wild  beasts 
that  swept  down  the  mountain  sides  able  to  check  the 
progress  of  the  patriotic  band,  who  were  as  determined  to 
clear  the  land  of  foes  as  were  the  settlers  who  followed 
after  of  its  forests.  After  a  toilsome  and  fatiguing  march 
they  surmounted  the  heights  of  the  Green  Mountains  and 
passed  down  their  western  slope.  They  were  now  ap- 
proaching a  territory  guarded  by  towering  forts  and  war- 
like armies  of  French  and  Indians,  who  had  struck  bloody 
hands  in  unholy  alliance  to  do  battle  against  the  crown 
of  England,  to  whom  the  allegiance  of  the  country  was 
due,  and  to  murder  its  faithful  subjects,  who  had  purchased, 
settled  upon,  and  improved  the  land.  All  along  the  fron- 
tiers of  the  settlements  blockhouses,  log  garrisons,  and 
forts  had  been  erected,  in  which  the  helpless  mother  and 
her  innocent  babes  could  take  refuge  whenever  she  heard 
the  bloodthirsty  hordes  of  wolfish  savages  howling  for 
their  innocent  blood.  The  man  who  went  forth  in  the 
early  morning  to  his  labor  of  clearing  the  forests  took  his 
gun  as  the  necessary  companion  of  his  axe,  and  placed  the 
former  beside  the  same  tree  he  felled  with  the  latter.  If 
he  returned  not  at  night,  his  waiting  wife,  when  the  morn- 
ing again  dawned  upon  her  sleepless  eyes,  might  find  him 
dead  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  in  which  his  axe  was  still 
driven,  pierced  by  the  bullet  of  some  treacherous  and 
lurking  foe ;  or,  if  the  husband  was  spared  to  return,  it 
might  only  be  to  find  his  beloved  wife  lying  lifeless  before 
his  door,  with  her  scalp  torn  from  her  broken  skull,  and 
the  bodies  of  his  darling  babes,  with  their  brains  dashed 
out,  piled  upon  her  mangled  form. 
To  drive  this  band  of  demon  monsters  from  the  land 


394  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

and  give  them  battle,  even  within  the  fortresses  and  strong 
enclosures  they  had  erected,  was  the  object  for  which  they 
had  marched  hither ;  and  fully  determined  were  they  to 
accomplish  their  purpose  ;  and  when  this  should  be  ef- 
fected, the  Mountain  Rangers,  together  with  such  others 
as  they  could  persuade  to  join  their  ranks,  had  another 
mission  to  fulfil ;  which  was,  to  follow  the  savage  foe  to 
their  bloody  dens  and  recapture  their  imprisoned  lambs, 
who,  though  as  yet  unslain,  were  trembling  in  the  very 
jaws  of  their  remorseless  captors. 

After  passing  the  mountains  they  found  the  land  par- 
tially settled  and  with  roads  on  which  they  could  more 
conveniently  pass  ;  and  Colonel  Lovewell  sent  forward 
some  twenty  men  to  reconnoitre  the  country  and  ascertain 
if  all  was  quiet  along  their  intended  route.  Most  of  these, 
after  a  long  march  in  advance,  during  which  they  discov- 
ered nothing  of  a  hostile  character,  halted  to  await  the 
approach  of  the  main  body  of  the  army  ;  while  a  part, 
among  whom  were  Gridley,  Lee,  and  English,  kept  on. 

They  were  passing  through  a  wild  morass  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lake  Champlain,  when  the  loud  report  of  a  gun  was 
heard,  and  the  hat  of  George  English  fell  to  the  ground, 
pierced  by  a  bullet  and  a  large  buckshot.  Looking  in 
the  direction  of  the  report,  they  saw  the  blue  curls  of 
smoke  rising  from  the  moving  bushes  ;  and,  cocking  their 
guns,  they  rushed  towards  the  ambush.  Just  before  they 
reached  it,  three  Indians  and  a  Frenchman,  all  of  immense 
stature,  arose  upon  their  feet  and  fired  upon  them.  But 
their  aim  was  too  hasty  to  be  effectual,  and  the  balls  only 
cut  the  limbs  above  their  heads ;  while  at  the  discharge  of 
their  own  pieces,  which  was  nearly  simultaneous  with  that 
of  their  foes,  one  of  the  Indians  and  the  Frenchman  fell 
lifeless  to  the  ground.  The  other  two  retreated  hastily 
behind  a  distant  tree  ;  and  the  English  quickly  reloadec 
their  guns  and  gave  chase,  separating  so  as  to  bring  the 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  395 

savages  in  view  of  one  or  the  other  as  they  approached 
the  tree.  But,  when  they  attained  a  position  which  enabled 
them  to  see  behind  the  tree,  no  Indian  was  to  be  seen. 

"  Ah,"  cried  Grid  ley,  "  they  are  shy  as  loons  ;  they  must 
have  crawled  off  while  we  were  reloading,  keeping  the  tree 
between  themselves  and  us." 

"  If  so,"  replied  Lee,  "  they  are  more  cunning  than  those 
of  the  great  Paugus  tribe,  and  we  shall  be  obliged  to  keep 
a  sharp  lookout  for  them." 

He  had  hardly  finished  the  sentence  when  a  bullet 
passed  through  his  coat  and  buried  itself  with  a  "thug" 
in  the  tall  spruce  behind  him,  while  in  the  direction  of  the 
report  were  seen  the  two  Indians,  bounding  like  frightened 
deer  for  a  still  more  distant  covert.  They  discharged 
their  pieces  at  them  ;  but  the  distance  was  so  great  and  the 
bushes  so  thick  that  their  balls  took  no  effect ;  and  as  the 
savages  were  so  much  in  advance  of  them  as  to  render  pur- 
suit unavailing  as  well  as  dangerous,  they  concluded  to  re- 
join their  companions. 

"  Well,"  said  Gridley  as  they  turned  back,  "  they  are  cool 
and  resolute  fellows,  any  how." 

"  They  are  so,"  replied  Lee  ;  "  and  if  this  is  a  specimen 
of  their  murderous  and  determined  spirit  when  only  four 
are  aroused,  what  have  we  to  expect  when  we  meet  the 
whole  bloody  crew  of  French  and  Indians  ?  " 

"  I  tell  you,  gentlemen,"  cried  the  lieutenant,  "  we  have 
got  to  fight ;  yes,  we  must  fight,  or  fall." 

"  We  will  fight,  then,"  said  Waldron,  as  he  came  up  on 
a  hard  run.  "  But  what  is  all  this  firing  for  ?  I  have  run 
a  full  mile  to  let  old  Bess  here  take  a  part  in  the  conver- 
sation." 

"  So  have  I,"  exclaimed  Walcott ;  "  and,  if  you  don't  show 
me  a  redskin  in  a  minute,  my  gun  will  go  off  of  itself." 

"  You  are  too  late,  gentlemen,"  replied  Gridley ;  "  we 
have  brought  down  only  half  of  the  covey,  and  the  other 
half  has  got  away."  , 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

"  Cunning  dogs,  these  Canada  Indians,"  added  Lee ; 
"  they  have  never  been  tamed  like  our  old  Pequawketts." 

"No."  rejoined  Captain  Waldron  ;  "but  we  will  tame 
them  ere  we  return  to  Laconia,  or  be  tamed  ourselves." 

"  The  prospect  is  about  as  flattering  for  the  one  as  the 
other,"  replied  Gridley,  "  if  we  are  to  judge  by  the  way  in 
which  they  threw  their  bullets  through  Lee's  coat  and 
English's  hat.  One  inch  lower,  and  he  would  have  stood 
a  slim  chance  of  ever  seeing  his  whitehaired,  redeyed, 
chalkfaced  spouse  in  this  world  at  least." 

"  That's  a  fact,"  replied  English,  laughing ;  "  I  should 
have  gone  to  the  land  of  ghosts,  without  doubt." 

"  Stop  that ! "  exclaimed  Gridley  with  a  shudder.  "  Don't 
bring  up  any  more  of  those  creatures  until  we  lay  the  one 
already  up." 

Here  the  main  body  hove  in  sight ;  and  the  bodies  of  the 
Indian  and  Frenchman  were  dragged  forward,  in  order,  as 
Gridley  said,  to  let  the  soldiers  smell  blood  and  be  made 
thereby  the  more  fierce  to  taste  it.  Night  was  now  com- 
ing on  ;  and  as  the  colonel  did  not  wish  to  camp  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  slaughtered  Indians,  lest  they  should  there- 
by irritate  those  who  should  come  for  their  bodies,  and  so 
bring  on  a  general  and  premature  action,  he  marched  rap- 
idly forward  as  long  as  a  man  could  be  plainly  distin- 
guished from  a  tree,  and  then  halted  for  the  night.  A 
double  guard  was  then  set  about  the  encampment,  which 
was  to  be  regularly  and  frequently  relieved.  But,  notwith- 
standing all  these  precautions,  four  of  the  guard  were  shot 
down  at  the  same  time  from  as  many  different  points 
around  the  encampment.  The  whole  army  was  aroused  in 
an  instant,  and  sallied  out  to  meet  the  foe ;  but  all  was 
still  and  silent  as  the  grave,  and  not  an  Indian  or  French- 
man was  to  be  seen  or  heard.  Yet  there  lay  the  lifeless 
bodies  of  four  sentinels,  one  of  whom  was  the  brave 
Coffin,  him  of  the  great  Bomazeen,  or  Bloody  Bones,  fight  at 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  397 

Norridgewock,  and  who,  after  having  suffered  and  escaped 
so  much  peril  and  danger  at  home,  had  marched  so  far 
only  to  find  a  strange  grave  in  a  strange  land.  And  most 
bitterly  did  the  Mountain  Rangers  deplore  his  loss,  for  he 
was  one  of  the  bravest  of  their  heroic  band.  They  raised 
him,  and,  loath  to  believe  him  dead,  endeavored  for  a  long 
time,  by  rubbing  and  chafing  his  powerless  limbs,  to  restore 
him  to  consciousness ;  but  the  vital  spark  had  forever 
fled,  and  all  their  efforts  were  unavailing.  As  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Moody,  who  was  chaplain  of  the  Mountain  Rangers 
in  the  Cape  Breton  expedition,  had  received  a  call  to 
settle  in  the  eastern  part  of  New  Hampshire,  they  now 
had  no  chaplain  ;  and  it  devolved  upon  Captain  Waldron 
to  make  such  remarks  as  he  deemed  appropriate  upon  com- 
mitting to  the  earth  the  body  of  their  brave  comrade. 

u  One  of  the  bravest  and  truest  men,"  said  he, "  of  our  gal- 
lant little  band  has  fallen.  Such  are  the  chances  of  war, 
that  he  who  to-day  avenges  the  death  of  a  friend  may  to- 
morrow be  obliged  to  pay  the  penalty  therefor  by  giving 
up  his  own  life.  But  we  should  not  repine  at  this  ;  for  in 
any  condition  or  circumstance  of  life  we  are  liable  to  fall, 
and  the  tenure  of  our  lives  is  at  the  best  frail  and  un- 
certain." 

Then,  looking  down  at  the  body,  he  continued:  "We 
must  lay  thy  once  active  but  now  lifeless  body  into  its  nar- 
row bed.  there  to  sleep  its  last,  long  sleep ;  and  we  have 
selected  this  pleasant  spot  beneath  this  stately  maple  for 
thy  last  resting-place,  where  the  solemn  roar  of  yon  river, 
as  it  rolls  on,  shall  ever  moan  thy  sad,  funereal  dirge.  The 
brown  thrush  shall  sing  at  sunset  above  thy  peaceful  head, 
the  tiny  feet  of  the  bounding  squirrel  shall  press  lightly 
upon  the  mould  that  covers  thee,  and  the  winged  maple 
bud  shall  whirl  and  flutter  above  thy  lonely  grave. 
Brother,  thy  last  battle  is  fought ;  and  wars,  and  tumults, 
and  revenge  will  henceforth  be  strangers  to  thy  breast. 
34 


398  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

The  Indian  warrior  may  pass  by  or  even  rest  his  weary 
head  upon  the  rude  mound  that  rises  over  thee ;  but  his 
presence  will  never  disturb  thy  quiet  rest  nor  arouse  one 
angry  passion  in  thy  pulseless  heart,  neither  shall  his 
fiercest  war  whoop  break  thy  gentle  slumber.  Wild  beasts 
may  howl,  furious  storms  may  rage,  and  all  the  red  artil- 
lery of  heaven  thunder  above  thee  ;  but  thou  wilt  heed 
them  not.  But  here,  beneath  the  leafy  mound,  shall  thy 
head  repose,  pillowed  upon  the  kind  bosom  of  thy  mother 
earth,  while  thy  spirit  shall  be  also  at  peace  upon  the  bosom 
of  thy  Father  and  thy  Friend." 

The  body,  wrapped,  as  it  was  wont  to  sleep,  in  its  mar- 
tial blanket,  was  now  lowered  into  its  humble  bed  and 
covered  with  earth  and  leaves  ;  and,  after  a  parting  volley 
over  the  grave,  the  Mountain  Rangers  turned  and  slowly 
and  sadly  left  the  spot.  Breakfast  was  now  ready,  and 
the  soldiers  partook  but  sparingly  ;  for  their  brows  were 
clouded  and  their  spirits  overshadowed  by  the  melancholy 
death  of  poor  Coffin,  whose  loss  was  felt  as  a  severe  blow. 
During  all  their  trials  and  troubles  from  the  attack  of  the 
Indians  upon  the  garrisons  at  Cocheco  to  the  present  cam- 
paign he  had  ever  borne  his  part  as  a  brave  and  faithful 
soldier  both  in  the  cause  of  his  country  and  his  king.  He 
had  shunned  no  danger  and  yielded  to  no  foe  ;  and  to  all 
save  the  midnight  assassin,  who  crept  upon  him  unawares, 
he  had  ever  proved  more  than  a  match. 

It  was  on  a  bright,  silvery  afternoon  when  the  forces  of 
New  Hampshire  came  in  sight  of  the  army  of  General  Am- 
herst, which  was  encamped  upon  a  commanding  hill  over- 
looking Lake  Champlain  at  its  narrow  and  serpentine 
bends,  nearly  a  third  of  the  distance  from  what  is  now 
termed  Whitehall  to  the  junction  of  the  lake  with  its 
nursling  sister,  that  most  beautiful  of  all  waters  —  Lake 
George.     General  Amherst  had  marched  up  by  the  way 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  399 

of  Albany,  and  had  reached  the  encampment  the  previous 
evening,  to  await  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Lovewell  and  his 
forces.  Amherst  had  received  notice  of  their  near  approach 
from  a  runner  he  had  sent  out  to  reconnoitre  the  adjoining 
country,  and  gave  orders  that  they  should  be  received  with 
military  honors.  After  the  colonel  had  been  presented 
to  the  general,  which  office  was  performed  by  George 
English,  who  had  become  acquainted  with  him  at  Boston, 
and  the  usual  general  ceremonies  on  such  occasions  were 
over,  the  companies  were  dismissed,  and  the  officers  and 
soldiers  made  more  individually  acquainted  with  each 
other. 

Then,  after  a  hasty  lunch  and  a  stiff  glass  of  the 
"  soldiers'  joy,"  the  tents  were  struck,  and  the  army  inarched 
up  to  the  Great  Bend,  that  they  might  be  nearer  the  fort 
and  encampment  of  the  enemy  and  have  a  less  distance  to 
march  on  the  following  morning.  They  saw  no  signs  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  country  seemed  wild  and  untrodden  by  the 
foot  of  man.  They  encamped  upon  a  little  interval  upon 
which  there  were  no  trees,  in  order  that  the  enemy  should 
not  be  able  to  approach  them  unawares,  stationed  a  strong 
guard,  and  slept  upon  their  arms,  which,  though  they 
might  have  been  thought  a  hard  couch  by  others,  were  to 
the  tired  soldier  as  soft  as  downy  pillows.  The  soldiers 
arose  the  next  morning  much  refreshed  and  eager  for  the 
fray ;  and  after  breakfast,  which  was  served  at  a  very 
early  hour,  a  little  party  was  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre 
the  enemy's  posts  and  report  his  position.  While  await- 
ing their  return,  General  Amherst,  who  had  received  news 
from  Schenectady  by  a  soldier  who  had  arrived  from  there 
during  the  night,  now  paraded  his  men  in  a  hollow  square 
and  addressed  them  as  follows  :  — 

"  Gentlemen  officers  and  fellow-soldiers  :  It  gives  me 
great  pleasure,  as  I  run  my  eye  along  the  line  of  athletic  and 
noble  men  now  before  me,  to  see  that  every  eye  sparkles 


400  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

with  enthusiasm  and  every  countenance  beams  with  deter- 
mined resolution.  This  is  the  spirit,  and  tjiese  the  men, 
fellow-soldiers,  which  we  need  for  this  day.  Our  country 
calls,  by  the  wails  of  the  living  and  the  groans  of  the 
dying,  that  to-day  we  avenge  the  cruel  deaths  of  our 
brothers  in  arms  and  their  unoffending  wives  and  children. 
But  a  few  hours  ago  a  messenger,  covered  with  the  blood 
of  his  wife  and  child,  whom  he  had  striven,  but  unavail- 
ingly,  to  protect,  arrived  in  camp  ;  and  from  him  I  have 
learned  that  additional  French  and  Indian  forces  have 
swept  down  from  the  wilds  of  Canada,  murdering  and 
slaughtering  the  peaceful  settlers  along  our  borders.  These 
forces  are  under  the  command  of  Monsieur  de  la  Durantage 
and  Le  Moine  de  St.  Helene,  who  were  appointed  by  Count 
Frontenac,  governor  of  Canada,  who  had  left  it  optional 
with  them  what  point  of  the  English  settlements  to  attack 
first.  The  Indians  are  led  on  by  the  great  Agnice,  chief 
of  the  Upper  Canadas,  who  exhorts  his  followers  to  for- 
get all  they  have  suffered  in  the  prospect  they  now  have  of 
avenging  their  wrongs.  These  French  and  Indian  ma- 
rauders have  marched  from  Canada  to  spread  havoc,  war, 
and  death  all  along  our  borders.  On  their  way  they  met 
a  party  of  Indian  women,  who  gave  them  all  the  necessary 
information  to  enable  them  to  approach  the  little  fenced 
town  of  Schenectady  at  its  most  accessible  point.  They 
entered  the  gates  to  which  the  squaws  had  directed  them 
without  encountering  any  opposition,  and,  dividing  into 
several  parties,  stationed  themselves  at  the  doors  and  raised 
the  terrible  war  whoop.  They  next  attacked  the  garri- 
son, and,  forcing  the  door,  put  all  its  inmates,  women  and 
children,  and  those  who  had  fled  thither  for  protection,  to 
the  knife.  Not  satisfied  with  this,  they  destroyed  the  gar- 
rison itself,  which  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  devouring  flames  ; 
and  a  private  dwelling,  in  which  the  inmates  had  sought  to 
protect  themselves  by  making  the  door  as  fast  and  secure 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  401 

as  possible,  was  forced  by  St.  Helene  and  his  party,  and 
all  fell  before  their  bloody  knives.  When  my  informant 
left,  massacre  and  pillage  were  going  on  in  every  direc- 
tion, and,  after  all  the  English  had  fallen,  the  maddened 
savages  spent  the  night  in  feasting  and  carousing.  A 
beautiful  girl,  named  Lucinda,  who  was  then  on  a  visit  to 
some  near  and  dear  relatives  at  the  garrisoned  houses,  and 
who  in  the  melee  escaped  from  the  gate,  was  overtaken, 
and  her  dark,  flowing  tresses  driven  into  her  white  brow 
by  the  dull  edge  of  the  savage  tomahawk.  Fellow- 
soldiers,  shall  these  atrocious  murders  go  unrevenged  ?  " 
One  unanimous  "  No  !  "  burst  from  the  lips  of  every  soldier  ; 
and  Amherst,  exchanging  a  few  words  with  the  reconnoi- 
tring party  which  had  just  returned,  continued  :  "  Fellow- 
soldiers,  the  scouts  bring  the  intelligence  that  this  bloody 
band  of  savage  marauders  of  which  I  have  been  speaking 
have  entered  the  fort  at  Ticonderoga  under  Durantago 
and  St.  Helene  and  joined  the  forces  of  Debalines. 
I    Soldiers,  are  you  ready  for  the  battle  ?  " 

"All  ready!  "  was  the  general  response  which  rung  from 
the  now  eager  and  excited  soldiery,  and  the  army  was  im- 
mediately put  in  motion. 

They  reached  the  vicinity  of  Ticonderoga  about  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon.  The  enemy  had  heard  of  their 
unwelcome  approach  and  dreaded  to  meet  them  ;  but,  fear- 
ing lest  they  should  gain  the  imputation  of  cowardice  at 
the  hands  of  their  cruel  governor,  Frontenac,  if  they  failed 
to  do  so,  they  held  a  hasty  council  of  war  and  determined 
to  risk  a  battle.  They  concluded  that  it  would  be  safer  to 
meet  the  English  upon  the  plain  in  front  of  the  fort  than 
to  await  their  attack  within  the  walls ;  as,  in  case  they 
were  defeated  in  the  first  instance,  they  could  retreat 
within  the  fortress  and  there  defend  themselves  for  a  long 
time.  Therefore,  as  the  English  came  in  sight  of  the 
fort,  they  beheld  a  large  force  of  French  and  Indians 
34* 


402  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 


drawn  up  before  it.  The  French  soon  paraded  in  regula 
battle  array ;  but  the  Indians  rushed  to  the  adjacent 
woods  and  disappeared.  Amherst  directed  his  subalterns 
to  keep  a  sharp  eye  on  the  redskins,  whose  intention,  he 
saw,  was  to  secrete  themselves  in  the  woods  and  thence 
annoy  the  flanks.  -To  defeat  this  manoeuvre,  the  Mountain 
Bangers,  who  were  more  acquainted  with  the  Indian  mode 
of  warfare  than  the  other  companies,  were  stationed  be- 
tween the  English  flank  and  the  woods,  and  the  order  was 
given  for  the  general  attack.  The  firing  first  commenced 
upon  the  flanks,  while  the  main  body  of  both  the  French 
and  English  forces  advanced  slowly  to  the  attack.  The 
orders  for  a  general  discharge  were  given  on  both  sides 
at  nearly  the  same  instant,  and  the  quick  volley  of  the 
rattling  musketry  and  the  booming  roar  of  the  heavy  can- 
non mingled  and  rolled  over  the  plain  and  echoed  back 
in  thunder  peals  from  the  distant  hills.  Both  stood  their 
ground  bravely,  while  the  combatants  fell  thick  and  fast 
on  both  sides,  and  the  flanks  were  engaged  in  bloody  con- 
flict with  the  Indians  for  the  mastery.  Orders  were  then 
given  in  front  for  the  charge  to  be  made  ;  and  the  heavy 
columns  of  the  French  reeled  at  the  shock,  and  then  gave 
way  and  retreated.  Captain  Waldron  and  his  gallant 
band  had  been  equally  successful  in  repulsing  the  savages 
who  had  assailed  the  flanks,  and,  pursuing  them  around  a 
hill,  came  in  sight  of  the  retreating  French.  Seeing  at  a 
glance  that  their  intention  was  to  regain  the  fort,  he  ceased 
to  follow  the  retreating  savages,  and,  turning  towards  the 
fort,  succeeded  in  intercepting  their  retreat.  But  the 
French  did  not  discover  this  manoeuvre  until  Waldron  was 
fairly  and  fully  between  themselves  and  the  fortress,  and  so 
rushed  on  until  they  were  mown  down  by  the  galling  fire 
of  the  Mountain  Rangers  in  front  as  well  as  by  the  sweep- 
ing discharges  of  the  forces  under  Amherst  in  the  rear. 
Panic-struck,  they  fled  for  the  woods,  whither  they  were 


. 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  403 

followed  by  their  victorious  foes,  who  pursued  them  some 
distance  into  the  forests,  and  then,  as  night  was  fast  coming 
on,  gave  up  the  chase,  and  returned  and  took  possession 
of  the  fort.  They  found  therein  a  large  quantity  of  ammu- 
nition and  provisions,  which  was  extremely  fortunate,  as 
the  next  day  a  heavy  rain  set  in,  which  lasted  several 
days.  The  soldiers,  however,  being  comfortably  shel- 
tered, and  having  plenty  of  provisions,  were  quite  at  their 
ease  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  weather  cleared  Amherst  led 
his  forces  to  the  attack  on  Crown  Point,  whither  the 
French  had  retreated.  The  English  were  now  ready  and 
anxious  for  another  engagement ;  but  as  they  came  in 
sight  of  the  fort  their  hopes  were  frustrated,  for  they 
saw  the  last  of  the  retreating  French  just  leaving  it.  The 
question  of  farther  pursuit  was  now  raised,  and,  on  being 
put  to  a  vote,  was  unanimously  decided  in  the  affirmative ; 
and  the  next  day  they  pursued  the  retreating  army  to 
Isle  aux  Noix.  But,  after  a  series  of  disasters  and  many 
unsuccessful  efforts  to  breast  the  furious  storms  of  Lake 
Champlain,  Amherst  became  convinced  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  take  the  place,  and  retreated  to  Crown  Point. 

And  now,  for  the  first  time,  an  opportunity  was  offered 
the  Mountain  Rangers  to  make  their  proposition.  The 
evening  after  they  reached  Crown  Point,  Captain  Waldron 
and  many  other  leading  spirits  of  the  Rangers  met  in 
secret  conclave ;  but  the  subject  of  their  deliberations  did 
not  transpire  until  the  next  morning. 

As  the  object  for  which  the  king's  forces  were  sent  into 

1  this  section  of  the  country  was  now  considered  as  having 
been  attained,  at  least  so  far  as  was  possible,  the  army  was 
paraded  the  following  morning  and  addressed  in  a  brief 
speech  by  General  Amherst,  the  substance  of  which  was, 
that  the  original  plan  of  the  campaign  contemplated  the 

1  driving  of  the  enemy  from  this  section  of  the  country,  and 
the  passage  of  the  army  down  the  River  Sorel  to  the  St. 


404  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

Lawrence  to  join  the  forces  of  Prideaux  and  "Wolfe.  But 
so  disastrous  had  the  storms  of  the  lake  proved  to  the 
craft  which  it  was  necessary  to  employ  in  order  to  reach 
the  other  forces  that  he  was  forced  to  abandon  the  reduc- 
tion of  Isle  aux  Noix  and  commence  a  retreat.  He 
thought  it  advisable  to  retire  by  the  way  of  Albany,  and 
should  therefore  immediately  issue  orders  to  that  effect. 

Britton  Waldron  now  came  forward  and  suggested 
that,  as  the  original  design  was  now  accomplished  so  far 
as  laid  in  their  power,  a  favorable  opportunity  was  now 
presented  to  chastise  the  murderous  tribe  of  St.  Francis 
Indians  which  resided  upon  a  river  of  that  name  in  Cana- 
da. They  were  the  most  hostile  and  dangerous  horde  of 
savages  with  which  the  English  settlers  of  Laconia  had  to 
contend,  and  had  seized  every  opportunity  when  their 
soldiers  were  absent  to  spread  havoc  and  murder  through- 
out its  borders.  Houses  had  been  burned,  horses  stolen, 
and  cattle  by  scores  killed  or  had  their  tongues  cut  out, 
and  were  otherwise  maimed  and  maltreated. 

"  But,  gentlemen,"  continued  Waldron,  as  he  wiped  the 
gathering  tears  from  his  eyes,  "  these  outrages  are  com- 
paratively as  dust  in  the  balance  when  weighed  with  the 
fact  that  our  nearest  and  dearest  friends,  if  they  have  not 
ere  this  perished  beneath  the  murderous  tomahawk,  are 
pining  in  hopeless  anguish  in  the  filthy  wigwams  of  these 
ferocious  wolves.  And,  gentlemen,  we,  the  Mountain  Ran- 
gers of  Laconia,  propose  to  liberate  them  if  they  still  live, 
or  perish  in  the  attempt.  But  to  this  end  we  need  aid  and 
assistance  from  our  brother  soldiers  to  enable  us  to  set  at 
liberty  our  dearest  friends  if  they  still  live,  and  if  not," 
(here  the  long-pent-up  tears  gushed  from  his  eyes  so  freely 
that  many  a  stouthearted  soldier  wept  from  sympathy,) 
"  to  avenge  their  death.  Gentlemen,  who  will  volunteer 
for  this  expedition?     If  any,  let  them  step  forward." 

As  he  closed,  Major  Rogers  and  two  hundred  trained 


LECxENDS   OF   LACONIA.  405 

warriors  stepped  forward,  and  the  welkin  rang  with 
shouts  of  joy  and  congratulations  of  welcome  which  broke 
from  the  lips  of  the  Mountain  Rangers  as  they  saw  this 
ready  response  to  the  appeal  of  their  beloved  captain.* 
The  volunteers  now  commenced  arming  themselves  with 
knives,  and  tomahawks,  and  such  other  weapons  as  they 
deemed  necessary  in  their  contemplated  expedition  ;  at 
which  sight  George  English,  who  had  fought  bravely  at 
Ticonderoga,  wept  like  a  child  with  joy.  He  had  on  his 
warlike  accoutrements,  gave  his  horse  to  an  English  offi- 
cer, and,  tying  his  blanket  about  his  well-stuffed  knapsack, 
was  soon  ready  for  a  start.  A  large  quantity  of  pro- 
visions was  secured  by  all  the  soldiers  ;  and  every  precau- 
tion being  taken  at  the  outset  to.  insure  a  comfortable 
journey,  the  company,  with  beaming  faces  and  stout  hearts, 
set  out  for  the  wilds  of  Canada. 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 


A.  Fool  reconnoitres  the  Lodges  at  St.  Francis. — His  Flttte  Play- 
ing and  Plot  to  ascertain  if  Palefaces  are  there. —  The  In- 
dian Guard  and  Old  Owl  King's  Nest. 


It  is  a  dark  night  at  St.  Francis,  and  there  is  a  seemingly- 
foolish  creature  talking  to  himself  as  he  wanders  among 
the  Indian  wigwams.  He  appears  to  be  some  poor  dement- 
ed being  who  ha3  strayed  hither  from  his  bed  of  leaves 
in  the  deep,  dark  forest.     Let  us  listen  to  his  mutterings. 

"  Foolhardy  did  that  fellow  who  was  with  the  Hingins, 
and  who  pretended  to  be  one  himself,  call  me  the  other 
day  when  he  met  me  in  the  woods,  and  said  I  was  not 
worth  taking  home,  for  they  couldn't  get  any  bounty  on  a 
fool's  scalp.  But,  lackaday !  I  followed  'em  till  I  came  in 
sight  of  these  wigwams,  when  I  laid  down  and  waited  till 
night ;  and  now  here  I  am — Fool,  or  Foolhardy,  or  what 
not,  just  as  they've  a  mind  to  call  me.  So,  fool,  let's  move 
around  and  see  what's  to  be  diskivered  ;  and  if  you  are 
likely  to  get  found  out,  you  can  hide  yourself  where  you 
hid  your  gun,  under  the  leaves.  Be  careful  of  your  lame 
foot,  though,  for  it  is  badly  blistered  by  that  old,  torn  shoe, 
in  your  long  tramp  ;  and  don't  forget,  when  the  sun  rises, 
to  tie  up  your  weak  eye.  Hark !  what  music's  that  ?  It 
don't  sound  zackly  like  a  fife.  P'raps  it's  the  music  of  the 
stars,  who  are  out  serenading  Aurora,  the  goddess  of  the 
morning,    They  are  so  high  up  that  may  be  they  can  see 

(406) 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  407 

her  blushing  face  as  she  peeps  over  the  distant  mountains, 
and  so  have  got  benamoured  with  her  fascinating  charms. 
Only  see  'em  wink  at  her !  No,  it  can't  be  them,  either  ; 
it  is  an  Hingin  flute,  as  soft  as  the  night  itself,  and  twice 
as  full  of  love,  for  I  can  see  the  charmer  who  is  tooting 
on't.  0,  how  sweet  he  blows  her  out !  See  there !  if  he 
hain't  kneeled  right  down  on  the  ground  close  to  one  of 
the  wigwams !  What  do  you  spoze  that  means  ?  Hush, 
you  fool !  for  in  the  doorway  of  the  wigwam  stands  an 
angel ;  and  only  see  her  eyes !  How  the  love  light  flashes 
down  through  their  long  lashes,  like  the  gleam  of  stars 
through  the  cloudy  fringes  of  night !  And  what  a  form, 
too  !  one  of  Nature's  masterpieces,  to  the  symmetry  of 
which  gold  and  silver  trinkets  would  add  nothing.  I  don't 
know  but  I  ought  to  look  t'other  way,  but  hardly  think  I 
will,  though  ;  for  it  makes  my  weak  eye  better  already 
looking  at  the  little  birdie.  Her  hair,  too,  is  worth 
noticing  :  for  it  is  of  the  deepest  black,  and  falls  in  wavy 
clusters  clear  to  her  knees.  Fool !  you  must  snuggle  to 
the  earth  and  keep  still.  There!  she  stretches  out  her 
little  hand,  and  the  music  stops,  the  flute  rolls  on  the 

#  ground,  and  the  player  staggers  with  trembling  steps 
towards  her.  Now  he  clasps  the  tiny  hand,  and  falls 
upon  his  knees,  and  points  up  to  the  stars.     She  motions 

j  for  him  to  rise  ;  and  now,  interlacing  their  arms,  they 
step  slowly  and  cautiously  into  the  wigwam.  But  what 
does  it  all  mean?  0  fool,  thou  art  indeed  a  fool  not  to 
think  before  now.  This  must  be  the  way  the  redskins 
do  their  courting ;  and  it  ain't  so  slow  a  way  either. 
Shouldn't  object  to  trying  it  myself ;  though  I'm  afraid  I 
dhouldn't  make  out  quite  so  well  as  the  fluter.  Now  to 
carry  out  a  fool's  thought.  There  lays  the  flute,  and  I'll 
get  it  and  practise  in  the  woods  all  day  to-morrow,  and 
then  I'll  try  my  skill  in  courting  Hingin  squaws,  or  angels, 
more  like,  for  they  look  as  if  they  had  just  fallen  down 


408  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

from  the  sky.  Now  I  have  it ;  but  'tis  only  a  rough,  hol- 
low stick,  after  all ;  and  I  wonder  how  that  wooer  could 
git.  so  xmuch  love  and  music  out  of  it  as  he  did.  But  I 
must  look  round  some  more,  and  may  be  I  shall  come 
across  somebody  that  I've  seen  afore.  But  who's  that  speak- 
ing—  no,  singing?  I  must  crouch  down  agin,  and  hear 
what's  going  on,  and  see  what's  going  to  be  done.  Aha ! 
another  fellow  under  the  winder  of  his  love  ;  but  he  hain't 
got  no  flute,  and  so  he  sings.  Well,  sing  away  there,  my 
fine  fellow  ;  you  may  raise  her  yet ;  that's  my  advice  to 
you ;  and,  though  'tis  only  the  advice  of  a  fool,  take  it, 
and  much  good  may  it  do  you.  'Pears  to  me  she's  a  long 
while  comin'  though  ;  and  I've  a  good  mind  to  give  him 
my  flute.  Pshaw !  I  forgot  that  I  hadn't  got  any  mind. 
But  hadn't  I  better  give  him  the  flute?  'Twould  fetch 
her  indeed  ;  I  know  'twould.  But  I  guess  I'll  let  him 
work  ;  for  I  don't  know  as  'twould  be  just  right  to  let 
him  have  the  flute,  since  'tis  only  a  borrowed  one.  0  my 
stars  !  there  she  comes  ;  and  she's  every  mite  and  grain  as 
handsome  as  the  other.  He  bounds  lightly  to  her  side 
and  looks  eagerly  into  her  eyes,  as  if  in  hopes  to  see  his 
image  there.  But  no  ;  she  turns  her  face  away,  and  he 
looks  sad  enough,  poor  fellow,  and  is  about  to  leave  her 
side,  when  she  catches  his  hand  and  says,  ■  The  little  pigeon 
will  think  of  it ;  and  if  her  lover  will  come  in  two  moons 
from  to-night  she  will  then  give  him  an  answer,'  How  his 
face  brightens  up  as  she  speaks  !  And  now  he  bounds  light- 
ly away.  Well,  now  that  all  is  still  and  there  is  nothing 
more  to  be  seen  I  will  go  back  to  my  leafy  nest  in  the 
woods,  so  that  I  may  he  able  to  wake  up  early  and  begin 
practising  on  the  flute." 

The  next  day  following  the  above-Jiamed  adventures  of 
Foolhardy  among  the  lodges  of  the  St.  Francis  Indians 
some  of  the  tribe  who  were  returning  from  an  early  hunt 
through  the  thick  woods  thought  they  heard  the  distressed 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  409 

squalls  of  a  dying  catbird  among  the  dense  bushes,  and 
turned  in  the  direction  of  the  sounds  to  ascertain  their 
cause.  What  was  their  surprise  on  reaching  the  spot  to 
find,  instead  of  the  poor  bird,  the  unfortunate  Foolhardy, 
with  distended  cheeks  and  protruding  eyes,  blowing  and 
puffing  away  at  the  rude  flute  as  if  for  dear  life,  and  seem- 
ingly entirely  entranced  with  his  wonderful  execution  and 
perfect  command  of  the  ventages !  They  approached 
with  so  little  noise,  while  his  flute  made  so  much,  that  he 
did  not  discover  them  until  a  hand  was  laid  upon  his 
shoulder.  Looking  up,  Foolhardy  saw  six  or  eight  large 
Indians  directly  behind  him,  one  of  whom  said,  — 

"  Ha !   The  palefaced,  squalling  cat  must  come  with  us." 

But  Foolhardy  was  not  frightened,  and  kept  squalling 
on  the  flute,  until,  as  the  Indian  still  persisted  and  gave 
him  a  sudden  jerk  of  the  shoulder,  Foolhardy  struck  his 
hand  a  smart  rap  with  the  flute,  and  replied,  — 

"  Go  way,  red  dog,  till  I  finish  this  tune,  and  don't 
meddle  with  me  agin,"  and  again  commenced  his  squall- 
ings. 

The  Indians,  surprised  at  the  cool  bearing  of  this 
strange  creature,  stood  silent  and  looking  at  each  other 
suspiciously,  until  Foolhardy  finally  stopped  of  his  own 
accord,  and,  tightening  the  bandage  about  his  lame  foot 
and  that  over  his  eye,  arose  to  his  feet.  As  he  did  so,  he 
drew  a  half-picked  bone  from  one  of  his  pockets  and  a 
crust  of  bread  from  the  other  and  began  to  gnaw  them 
alternately.  After  he  had  filled  his  mouth  he  drew  up  the 
knee  of  the  lame  foot,  and,  holding  it  suspended,  hopped 
about  upon  the  other  foot,  dancing  towards  the  Indians 
and  singing  out  "  Tum-te-tum,  tum-te-tum  "  with  an  energy 
that  was  really  startling.  The  Indians  fell  back  as  he 
approached  and  asked  him  his  name. 

"  A  red  dog  like  you,"  said  he,  "  who  met  me  in  the 
woods  yesterday,  said  I  was  Foolhardy,  and  said  he  could 
35 


410  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

get  no  bounty  on  a  fool's  scalp,  and  so  wouldn't  take  me 
along  ;  but  I  didn't  like  that  name  very  well  ;  so  I 
changed  it  to  Foolhandy,  and  so  have  come  along  on  my 
own  hook  to  sell  my  scalp  to  the  red  dogs  —  tum-te-tum." 

"  But  where  did  you  come  from  ?  "  asked  the  savage. 

"  From  the  downmost  horn  of  the  moon,"  returned  Fool- 
handy.  "  How  should  you  like  to  be  in  the  moon  ?  —  in  a 
horn  —  eh  ?  —  tum-te-tum." 

"  Let  us  leave  him,"  said  one  of  the  Indians  ;  "  for  the 
Great  Spirit  will  be  angry  if  we  meddle  with  one  like 
him." 

One  of  the  savages,  on  looking  more  closely  at  the  flute, 
recognized  it,  and  cried  out,  — 

"  Ah,  thief,  that  is  the  flute  of  Occum,  the  son  of  the 
great  chief  Titigaw.     Where  did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  Found  it  on  the  ground,"  replied  Foolhandy.  "  Tum- 
te-tum." 

The  Indians  now  held  a  whispered  consultation  among 
themselves,  and  finally  told  the  fool  that  he  must  go  with 
them  before  the  chief's  son  and  account  for  the  stolen 
flute.  They  then  tied  him,  while  he  still  kept  up  his  "  tum- 
te-tum,"  and  seemed  so  elated  that  they  could  hardly  hold 
him.  As  they  approached  the  village,  one  of  the  party 
ran  ahead  and  informed  Occum  of  their  finding  his  flute  ; 
and,  as  they  came  into  the  village,  he  met  them  before  the 
very  lodge  where  Foolhandy  had  picked  the  instrument 
up,  and,  looking  at  it,  declared  it  to  be  his  own.  By 
this  time  a  host  of  Indians,  who  had  seen  the  fool  led  in, 
gathered  about  him ;  but  he  seemed  to  enjoy  himself  as 
well  as  ever,  and  still  danced  and  kept  up  his  "  tum- 
te-tum." 

Several  young  squaws  came  out  of  the  lodge  to  see  the 
fun,  among  whom  was  the  identical  girl  who  had  taken 
such  a  prominent  part  in  the  scene  of  the  night  before. 
Occum,  inspired  by  the  presence  of  his  lady  love,  now  put 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  411 

on  his  loftiest  airs  and  jerked  poor  Foolhandy  about  in 
fine  style,  demanding  that  he  should  tell  how  he  came  by 
it.  Foolhandy  only  answered  by  singing  "  tum-te-tum n 
until  he  was  untied,  when,  driving  the  Indians  back  with 
the  flute,  he  threw  himself  on  his  knees  as  Occum  had  done 
the  night  before,  squalled  upon  the  flute,  and  then,  letting 
it  drop  to  the  ground,  ran  and  caught  the  hand  of  the 
young  squaw,  and,  falling  upon  his  knees,  pointed  to  the 
stars  precisely  as  the  young  Indian  had  done  the  evening 
previous.  The  young  squaw,  who  was  among  the  first  to 
interpret  the  "  tableau,"  dashed  into  the  lodge,  the  mo- 
ment he  dropped  her  hand,  amid  a  perfect  roar  of  shouts 
from  the  delighted  crowd  ;  while  Occum,  who  would  glad- 
ly have  wreaked  his  vengeance  upon  the  head  of  Fool- 
handy had  he  dared  to  do  so,  now  stoutly  protested  that 
the  flute  did  not  belong  to  himself  and  that  he  knew  noth- 
ing of  it.  So  the  flute  lay  upon  the  ground  unclaimed 
and  untouched  ;  for  whoever  took  it  must  of  course  take 
the  joke  with  it.  Foolhandy  then  drew  his  bone  and  crust 
from  his  pocket  and  gnawed  away  upon  them,  occasionally 
uttering  his  "  tum-te-tum  ;  "  and  so  superstitious  were  the 
Indians  in  regard  to  his  supposed  sacred  character  as  a 
fool  that  no  one  of  them  durst  meddle  with  him  further. 
But  Tom  Noble,  the  brother  of  that  blueeyed  maid  of 
heaven,  Fanny,  who  had  adopted  the  Indian  mode  of  life, 
now  came  up,  and,  to  show  his  daring  to  the  Indians  and 
let  them  see  how  far  he  could  excel  them  in  impudence, 
spit  upon  the  bone  which  Foolhandy  was  gnawing,  saying, 
tauntingly,  that  his  bone  needed  sauce  and  had  now  got  it. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Foolhandy  ;  "  'tis  a  good  deal  better. 
Let's  have  some  more  of  it,"  and  struck  Tom  full  in  the 
mouth  with  the  long  bone,  cutting  his  lip  and  loosening 
his  front  teeth,  so  that  the  blood  ran  freely.  Noble  sprang 
for  his  knife,  and  cried  out,  — 

"  Fool  or  knave,  you  bloody  palefaced  dog,  you  shall 
now  lose  your  scalp." 


412  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

"  I  have  lost  it  once,"  replied  Foolhandy,  "  and  the  red 
dogs  who  took  it  said  they  couldn't  git  the  bounty  money 
on  it ;  but  if  you  want  to  go  marketing  with  it,  take 
it  and  try  it." 

The  maddened  Noble  sprang  forward,  and,  twisting 
Foolhandy's  hair  around  his  left  hand,  drew  his  keen  knife 
around  his  head  and  pulled  off  his  scalp,  when  the  fool's 
head  presented  the  appearance  of  a  recent  scar  extending 
nearly  over  the  entire  surface.  Noble  dropped  the  scalp 
upon  the  ground,  looked  at  his  hands  with  horror  and 
disgust,  and  turned  pale  even  through  his  paint. 

"  It's  a  foul  and  unclean  spirit,"  said  he,  shuddering. 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  said  Occum  ;  "  and  I  would  not 
have  touched  him  for  the  handsomest  gun  I  ever  saw." 

"  Bring  me  water,"  cried  Noble,  "  that  I  may  cleanse 
my  hands." 

"  Better  cleanse  your  heart  first,"  replied  the  fool,  "  and 
then  try  your  luck  in  marketing  your  prize  there,"  said  he, 
pointing  to  the  putrid  scalp.  "  Ha  !  ha !  it  came  from  the 
head  of  a  foul  spirit ;  and  whosoever  touches  the  inner 
surface  next  the  brain  —  and  which  was  heated  by  the 
fires  of  the  pit  —  is  poisoned  and  polluted  forever." 

Here  a  squaw  came  with  a  vessel  of  water,  which  she 
poured  upon  Noble's  hands. 

"  Turn  it  into  his  mouth,"  cried  the  fool  ;  "  for  his  heart 
begins  to  kindle  and  burn  with  the  poison,  and  his  cow- 
ardly face  to  turn  pale  already." 

"  It  does  so  !  "  screamed  the  squaw. 

"  0,"  cried  Occum,  "  send  for  the  great  medicine  man 
to  drive  out  the  evil  spirit  and  make  him  whole." 

"  Send  for  your  hot  fire-water,"  said  the  fool,  "  to  put 
out  the  raging  fires  of  the  forest." 

As  Noble  staggered  and  fell  upon  the  ground  Occum 
cried  out,  "  0,  good  fool,  is  there  nothing  that  will  save 
him?" 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  413 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  fool  ;  "  but  you  have  not  got  it  here. 
And  when  he  dies  the  plague  will  go  through  the  whole 
tribe,  and  you. will  all  die  like  the  great  Attikameques 
tribe,  which  once  dwelt  beyond  the  big  river,  who  all 
perished  in  one  day." 

"  0 !  0  !  "  screamed  the  entire  affrighted  crowd.  "  Tell 
us  what  will  restore  him  and  stop  the  terrible  plague,  and 
our  swiftest  runners  shall  fly  and  bring  it  at  once." 

"  Well,"  rejoined  Foolhandy,  "  the  soft  hand  of  a  black- 
haired,  Christian,  palefaced  woman  laid  upon  his  brow 
will  restore  him  and  prevent  the  spread  of  the  plague." 

"  We  have  one,"  shouted  Occum,  "  shut  up  in  the  same 
lodge  with  the  sheep  which  we  brought  from  the  country 
of  the  palefaces  :  let  her  be  brought." 

Away  bounded  the  runners,  and  soon  returned,  drag- 
ing  Rozella  Langdell,  pale  and  trembling,  to  the  side  of 
the  dying  man.  She  laid  her  hand,  as  was  directed,  upon 
his  brow  ;  while  the  fool  muttered  over  some  unintel- 
ligible gibberish,  and  thereupon  declared  that  he  was 
saved.  In  a  few  moments  Noble  arose  to  his  feet  amid  the 
deafening  shouts  of  the  savage  multitude  ;  and,  wiping  off 
the  froth  from  his  mouth,  declared  himself  completely 
cured. 

Rozella  was  immediately  hurried  back  to  her  prison; 
but  the  fool  followed  after,  and  no  one  dared  prevent  him. 

They  took  her  to  an  obscure,  dark  wigwam,  situated  in 
the  wrillows  by  the  river  side,  and  pushed  her,  groaning 
audibly,  over  the  threshold.  But,  despite  that  groan,  the 
fool  had  so  little  feeling  for  her  that,  as  she  disappeared, 
he  gave  a  much  louder  "  tum-te-tum  "  than  usual,  dancing 
upon  one  leg,  and  squalling  upon  his  flute  until  the  whole 
woods  rung  with  the  hideous  music. 

The  savages  were  now  at  a  loss  to  know  whether  Fool- 
handy  was  a  fool  or  a  wizard,  and  for  that  reason  thought 
it  policy  to   treat  him  with  great  consideration,  lest  a 
35* 


414  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

contrary  course  should  bring  about  some  awful  calamity. 
They  therefore  again  gathered  around  him  and  offered 
him  the  best  lodge  in  the  village. 

"  No,"  replied  Foolhandy  to  their  proifers  ;  "  I  sleep 
well  enough  now." 

"Where  do  you  sleep?"  inquired  the  Indians. 

"  I  jest  swing  my  leg  over  the  limb  of  a  big  tree,"  said 
he,  "  and  hang  head  downward  all  night  like  a  'possum." 

"  But  what  do  you  do  when  it  rains  ?  "  asked  they. 

"  0,"  cried  the  fool,  "  I  have  got  a  big  towzer  of  an  old 
queen's  arm  down  there  in  the  woods,  and  when  it  rains 
very  hard  I  crawl  into  the  barrel." 

Thereat  the  savages  all  marvelled  greatly,  and  with 
their  "  Ugh ! "  left  him  to  pursue  his  own  course  unharmed 
and  unmolested. 

"  Father,"  asked  Rozella,  as  she  was  roughly  thrust  into 
her  gloomy  prison  as  has  just  been  narrated,  "why  is 
it  that  of  late  we  have  been  kept  in  this  loathsome  den 
and  treated  so  much  worse  than  we  were  when  we  first 
came  among  the  savages  ?  " 

"I  have  been  at  a  loss  to  ascertain  the  reason,  dear 
Rozella,"  replied  the  squire,  "  and  asked  the  guard  to-day, 
when  he  allowed  me  to  walk  out  a  few  minutes,  the  same 
question,  and  he  informed  me  that  the  English  were 
making  war  upon  the  French  and  Indians  at  three  differ- 
ent points  at  least,  and  that,  as  the  English  had  powerful 
armies  who  were  about  to  march  against  Quebec,  Niagara, 
Ticonderoga,  and  Crown  Point,  there  would  be  a  bloody 
time  through  both  the  Canadas.  He  also  said  that  prob- 
ably I  should  not  be  permitted  again  to  go  out  until  peace 
was  declared,  and  intimated  that,  in  case  Wolfe  took  Que- 
bec, Amherst  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  Prideaux 
Niagara  and  Montreal,  the  English  prisoners  here  would 
be  immediately  put  to  death." 

"  Alas !  alas !  "  cried  Rozella,  as  she  fell  upon  her  knees 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  415 

beside  her  mother,  who  was  sobbing  so  piteously  that  she 
could  not  speak.  "  Dear  mother,  do  not  grieve  so  ;  for  we 
may  yet  be  delivered.  The  all-seeing  eye  sleeps  not  nor 
slumbers  ;  his  ear  is  not  deaf  that  it  cannot  hear,  nor  his 
arm  shortened  that  it  cannot  save." 

"  True,"  responded  Elsie,  coming  towards  the  weeping 
mother  and  daughter ;  "  but,  Rozella,  you  told  me  once 
that  He  might  save  the  soul  at  the  expense  of  the  body  ; 
and,  for  my  part,  I  must  confess  I  see  no  way  of 
escape." 

"Neither  do  I,"  said  the  squire,  with  trembling  lips 
and  tearful  eyes  ;  and,  with  a  despairing  shake  of  the  head, 
he  threw  his  face  into  his  hands,  as  his  elbows  rested 
upon  his  knees  and  his  long  gray  hair  fell  over  his 
wrinkled  brow. 

And  even  the  taciturn  Mr.  Tufton,  who  rarely  spoke 
and  never  seemed  excited,  now  paced  the  floor  in  nervous 
agitation  and  smoothed  with  his  hand  the  uncombed 
locks  of  his  younger  daughters,  who  wept  as  they  buried 
their  faces  upon  their  father's  bosom.  At  length  Mrs. 
Langdell,  who  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  speak,  mur- 
mured, "  0,  it  is  hard  to  suffer  and  die  thus  ! " 

"  Certainly  it  is,"  replied  Rozella ;  "  but  did  not  He 
have  to  endure  pangs  infinitely  greater  than  our  own  who 
suffered  upon  the  cross  that  we  might  live?  But  my 
greatest  agony  is  that  you  and  father  are  obliged  to  en- 
dure in  your  old  age  such  heartrending  afflictions.  And 
could  you  but  be  removed  to  our  dear  home  in  Laconia,  I 
would  count  my  own  sufferings  but  as  amusements  and 
my  afflictions  as  pleasant  pastimes.  But  still  I  have  faith 
that  we  shall  yet  be  delivered.  The  Lord  hath  thus  far 
delivered  us  from  all  our  afflictions,  and  it  would  be  un- 
generous and  unjust  to  doubt  him  now.  So  let  us  wait 
upon  him'and  stand  still,  and  we  shall  see  his  salvation." 

The  good  squire  shook  his  head  sadly  and  replied,  "I 
have  no  faith." 


416  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

"  But  you  will  have  faith,"  replied  Rozella,  "  when  the 
struggle  comes." 

"  Faith  will  do  but  little,"  rejoined  the  squire,  "  in  that 
trying  hour,  without  works." 

"Precisely  so,  dear  father,"  replied  Rozella.  "  Only  have 
the  faith,  and,  when  the  opportunity  comes  to  work,  do 
what  seemeth  the  very  best  with  all  your  might.  Dying 
grace  is  not  given  to  the  strong  and  healthy ;  but  when 
the  final  struggle  comes,  if  he  has  cherished  faith,  grace 
rushes  to  his  aid,  and  the  soul  triumphs  even  in  the  utter 
fall  of  the  body.  So  it  may  be  in  this  case  ;  and,  though  all 
is  dark  and  despairing  about  us,  faith  will  help  us  to  exert 
ourselves  to  the  utmost  in  the  hour  of  trial,  and  grace  will 
complete  the  work  of  our  salvation." 

The  brighteyed  Owega  now  came  up  with  a  smile  and 
said,  "  Miss  Rozella,  I  have  been  contriving  a  plan  for  our 
safety  which  I  think  will  succeed  ;  and  if  the  English  do 
come,  and  the  Indians  rush  in  to  butcher  us  before  they 
fly,  as  is  their  custom,  I  think  my  plan,  in  addition  to  my 
wolfskin  performance,  which  you  know  the  superstitious 
savages  are  greatly  afraid  of,  will  drive  every  one  of  them 
into  the  river." 

"What  can  it  be,  dear  Owega?"  asked  Rozella,  softly 
kissing  her  brown  forehead. 

"  Miss  Rozella  knows,"  replied  she,  "  that  in  the  other 
part  of  the  wigwam  are  the  sheep  which  the  Indians  drove 
hither  from  the  settlements." 

"  To  be  sure,"  rejoined  Rozella ;  "  but  what  then  ?  " 

"Well,"  cried  Owega,  "let  this  squaw  alone  for  the 
rest."  Whereupon  all  smiled,  and  the  squire  began  to 
have  faith. 

"  Tum-te-tum,  tum-te-tum,"  sung  the  fool,  as  he  buried  his 
gun  under  the  leaves,  and  taking  his  flute,  of  which  he 
now  considered  himself  a  perfect  master,  started  for  the 
village. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  417 

"Now,  fool,"  said  he,  "you  and  I  and  Handy  are  going 
down  among  those  beaver  houses  again  to  reconnoitre  ;  so 
put  your  bandage  about  your  neck,  ready  to  slip  over  your 
eye,  and  come  along.  Now,  Foolhandy,  I'll  tell  you  one 
thing  ;  but  you  mustn't  let  the  cat  out ;  remember  that,  fool. 
This  expedition  to-night  is  not  exactly  Hervey's  Medita- 
tions, but  a  fool's  meditations  among  the  spirits  ;  and  I  am 
going  to  raise  them,  too ;  now  you  see  if  I  don't.  The 
good  spirits  within  that  dark  tomb  among  the  willows  I 
believe  I  could  raise  by  first  laying  the  guard  and  then 
breaking  open  the  door.  But  it  is  but  a  fool's  thought- 
after  all ;  for  they  would  perish  with  hunger  in  the  woods, 
and  their  feet  would  *  be  blistered  worse  than  mine  were, 
even  if  they  were  not  retaken.  I  know  a  way  worth  twice 
as  much  as  that,  fool,  and  I  will  let  you  into  it  by  and  by  ; 
but  to-night  I  must  go  down  to  the  wigwam  among  the 
willows  and  find  how  the  land  lays  in  that  quarter  and 
which  is  the  most  accessible  point.  After  that  we  will 
stroll  round  the  village,  and,  if  we  can't  raise  one  of  the 
handsome  spirits,  we  will  raise  the  deuse  with  them  any 
how.  So  straighten  up,  Foolhandy,  for  the  king's  business 
must  be  attended  to  ;  you  have  let  yourself  to  him,  and 
must  not  neglect  his  work.  There,  fool,  is  the  guard,  a  big 
swarthy  Hingin  ;  but  don't  be  'fraid." 

"  Who's  there  ?  "  shouted  the  guard  in  his  own  language, 
of  which  the  fool  could  understand  a  little  and  guess  at 
the  rest. 

"  Tum-te-tum-te-to,"  sung  out  the  fool. 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?  "  asked  the  guard. 

"  It  means,"  said  Handy,  "  that  I  have  got  a  sore  toe, 
and  I  have  come  down  here  to  play  you  a  tune  on  my  flute. 
Will  you  dance?" 

"Where  did  you  come  from  to-night  ?"  inquired  the 
Indian. 

"  All  the  way  from  the  great  owl  king's  nest,"  replied  the 


418  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

fool.  "  Did  you  ever  see  him  ?  One  of  his  wings  is  as 
large  as  that  black  cloud  up  there,  and  would  cover  the 
whole  village  of  St.  Francis  as  with  the  pall  of  night. 
We  young  owls  have  to  come  after  his  food  in  the  night, 
for  it  takes  twelve  Hingins  for  his  breakfast  every  day  ; 
and  when  I  fly  back  I  shall  carry  him  the  biggest  chap  I 
can  find." 

The  Indian  now  turned  aside  and  backed  off,  looking 
mysteriously  at  the  fool,  and  let  him  pass,  who  reconnoitred 
as  long  as  he  chose  around  the  lodge  where  the  captives 
were  confined,  but  thought  it  not  prudent  to  disturb  their 
peaceful  slumbers. 

"  Now,  fool/'  said  he,  "  you  see  there  are  two  doors,  and 
the  one  next  to  the  river  is  the  easiest  forced.  All  right ; 
but  I  would  rather  show  than  tell  you  how  I  shall  do 
it ;  so  come  along,  and  I  will  go  up  into  the  village  and 
see  if  I  can  raise  the  handsome  spirits  as  the  young  chief 
did.'7 

And  as  he  spoke  he  gave  a  shrill  toot  upon  his  flute, 
which  rang  wildly  out  upon  the  night  air  and  was  an- 
swered by  the  mournful  bleat  of  a  sheep  in  the  wigwam 
by  the  river. 

"  Good  sign,  that,"  said  the  fool ;  "  got  an  answer  the 
first  time  trying.  I  shall  have  good  luck,  I  know  I  shall. 
There !  did  you  see  the  guard  sheer  out  of  your  way  then  ? 
lie  dreads  being  carried  to  the  owl  king's  nest.  That 
wasn't  a  bad  idea  for  a  fool,  was  it  ?  Tum-te-tum.  Now, 
fool,  we  have  got  here  among  the  handsome  spirits ;  so 
now  for  the  work." 

4.nd,  placing  the  flute  to  his  lips,  he  produced  such  an 
affective  squeak  that  he  almost  frightened  himself. 

"  Softer,  softer,"  said  he ;  "a  fool  shouldn't  part  with  his 
breath  so  easily." 

And,  blowing  more  gently,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  under 
the  window  of  one  of  the  lodges  and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  419 

door,  expecting  every  moment  to  see  it  open.  But,  although 
the  door  did  not  open,  the  window  did  ;  but  the  little  cloth 
lattice  which  served  for  a  window  swung  in  so  softly  that 
he  did  not  hear  it,  and  was  not  aware  of  its  being  open 
until  a  bucket  of  cold  water  came  with  full  power  upon  his 
devoted  head.  This  was  an  act  in  the  programme  of  In- 
dian courtship  which,  as  he  had  seen  only  the  fair  side 
of  it,  the  fool  had  not  learned.  Nor  did  the  young  squaw 
know  that  it  was  the  fool  who  was  playing  the  lover  under 
her  window,  or  she  would  not  have  dared  to  play  him  such 
a  trick. 

"  Murder !  "  shouted  the  fool  as  he  sprang  upon  his  feet ; 
and  the  young  squaw  screeched  most  wofully  as  she  saw 
who  it  was. 

"  Murder !  bloody  murder ! "  again  bellowed  the  fool ;  and 
in  a  moment  the  whole  wigwam  was  in  an  uproar.  But 
the  fool,  recovering  his  presence  of  mind,  thought  it  best 
to  beat  a  speedy  retreat,  and  accordingly  hastened  back 
to  the  woods. 

"  Well,  Foolhandy,"  said  he,  after  he  reached  the  woods, 
"how  have  you  succeeded  in  raising  the  spirits?  0, 
grandly,  grandly  ;  much  better  than  I  expected  ;  for  I  have 
raised  one  foul  spirit  and  scared  her  back  again  to  her 
den.  But  here,"  laying  his  hand  upon  his  breast,  "  I  have 
raised  a  spirit  which  is  not  so  easily  laid.  I  am  glad  of 
it,  and  it  couldn't  have  been  better  for  me  than  has  hap- 
pened ;  for  the  truth  of  it  is,  fool,  you  had  begun  to  think 
a  great  deal  too  highly  of  those  handsome  Hingins,  and 
was  already  studying  out  a  plan  to  save  them  when  the 
army  should  come  ;  but  that  is  all  over  now.  It  was  pretty 
thoroughly  cooled  off  by  that  ducking,  and  I  don't  feel 
very  warm  towards  the  redskins  now.  So  plague  take  the 
flute !  n  said  he,  as  he  broke  it  around  a  tree  and  threw  the 
fragments  into  the  bushes.  "  Now  the  fool  is  himself  again, 
as  a  fool  should  be.    So  now  to  sleep,  and  to-morrow  I 


420  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

start  for  the  great  Memphremagog  to  meet  the  English 
forces  ;  for  Foolhandy  heard  the  talk  in  the  cabin  among 
the  willows,  and  knows  the  whole  story  now,  and  can  lead 
them  to  the  very  wigwam  where  the  captives  are  im- 
prisoned." 


CHAPTER    XXXVII 


Mountain  Rangers  and  the  Fool  meet  at  the  great  Lake.  —  The 
Conversation.  —  They  reach  the  Owl  King's  Nest.  —  Great  Bat- 
tle at  St.  Francis.  —  Plot  discovered  and  Characters  revealed. 


It  was  late  in  autumn  when  the  Indians  usually  gath- 
ered their  corn ;  whence  all  such  days  about  that  season 
of  the  year  are  called  Indian  summer  days.  This  day, 
particularly,  had  been  unusually  mild  and  golden.  The 
Mountain  Rangers,  with  Captain  Waldron  and  Major 
Rogers,  who  joined  them  at  Ticonderoga,  at  their  head,  had, 
after  a  long  and  tedious  march  through  the  gloomy  forests 
of  Canada,  reached  at  sunset  Lake  Memphremagog  ;  and  so 
pleasant  and  inviting  did  its  silvery  waters  look  to  the 
tired  soldiers  that  they  encamped  upon  its  very  shore.  The 
tents  were  pitched  ;  but  ere  their  white  sheets  were  raised 
many  a  fatigued  soldier  had  pitched  himself  upon  the 
ground  to  rest  his  wearied  limbs.  After  roll  call,  "  Now," 
said  Major  Rogers,  "for  supper,"  which  was  soon  ready  ; 
the  soldiers  meanwhile,  as  they  rested,  discussing  the 
beauty  of  the  scenery  through  which  they  had  passed,  and 
that  of  the  lake  in  particular. 

"I  have  ascertained,"  said  Waldron,  "that  the  outlet 
of  this  lake  leads  directly *by  the  residence  of  the  St. 
Francis  tribe,  where,  if  still  living,  our  dearest  earthly 
treasures  are  hidden." 

"  But  if  Heaven  smiles,"  said  English,  "  those  treasures 
afi  (421) 


422  LEGENDS  OF  LACONU. 

shall  not  long  be  concealed  there  in  the  dark,  damp  dens 
of  those  bloodthirsty  wolves." 

"  And  I  trust,"  cried  Walcott,  "  that  it  is  the  will  of 
Heaven  that  we  rescue  all  the  English  prisoners  and  pluck 
them  unharmed  from  the  hands  of  the  spoiler  ;  for  we  have 
thus  far  been  prosperous  beyond  our  most  sanguine  expec- 
tations." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  responded  Gridley  ;  "  it  will  never  do  to 
despair  now.  And  though  I  have  nothing  to  fight  for 
but  the  cause  of  my  king  and  country,  still,  gentlemen,  I 
trust  you  will  not  see  Grizzly  Gridley  in  the  background 
when  the  fight  commences." 

"  Gentlemen,"  cried  Major  Rogers,  "  as  you  are  all,  or 
at  least  Captain  Waldron  and  Ensign  Walcott,  so  very 
anxious  to  save  your  own  personal  friends,  you  must  be 
extremely  cautious  not  to  let  your  zeal  run  away  with  your 
judgment ;  for  you  know  the  first  thing  the  savages  do, 
when  attacked,  is  to  slay  their  prisoners  before  they  fly 
themselves.  Therefore  it  seems  very  desirable  that  we 
ascertain  in  what  particular  lodge  the  captives  are  kept. 
If  this  can  be  done,  I  will  take  the  responsibility  of  plan- 
ning the  attack." 

"  That,"  replied  Waldron,  "  will  be  next  to  impossible 
to  ascertain  without  being  discovered." 

"  Then,"  rejoined  Rogers,  "  the  whole  expedition  may 
prove  a  failure,  at  least  so  far  as  saving  the  captives  is 
concerned." 

The  little  band  of  officers  all  sighed  deeply  as  these 
words  fell  from  the  major's  lips,  and  George  English 
almost  sobbed  aloud.  All  then  gathered  around  the  even- 
ing meal,  and  among  the  rest  an  odd-looking  creature, 
whom  no  one  knew  or  had  before  noticed.  He  had  long 
black  hair  like  an  Indian,  which  hung  down  to  his 
shoulders,  with  one  eye  bound  up  with  a  bandage,  and  one 
foot  with  another.    The  soldiers  spoke  to  him  ;  but  he 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  423 

seemed  so  intent  upon  eating  that  he  could  not  stop  to 
answer  them,  and  only  made  signs  that  he  did  not  under- 
stand their  language.  He  made  such  fearful  havoc  among 
the  eatables  and  drinkables  that  the  soldiers  looked  upon 
him  as  a  walking  maelstrom,  that  sucked  up  every  thing 
that  came  within  its  circle,  and  began  to  stand  back,  lest 
they,  too,  should  be  drawn  into  the  dreadful  vortex.  But 
finally,  to  their  surprise,  he  stopped  as  suddenly  as  he  had 
begun,  and,  dancing  upon  his  sound  foot,  began  to  sing, 
"  Tum-te-tum,  tum-te-tum." 

"  Ha !  ha ! "  laughed  Major  Rogers  ;  "  we  have  got  a 
curious  specimen  of  humanity  here." 

"  And  amazing  good  fodder  too,"  replied  the  specimen, 
who  could  now  speak  English.  "  Hain't  had  any  thing  like 
it  for  two  months  ;  and  if  you  have  got  any  more  curious 
specimens  than  what  I've  seen,  fetch  'em  on,  and  I'll  dis- 
pose of  'em  short  metre.     Tum-te-tum." 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  "  asked  Captain  Waldron. 

"Foolhandy,"  sung  out  he,  as  he  still  kept  dancing. 

"  Where  do  you  live  ?  "  resumed  Waldron. 

"  0, 1  lives  down  in  the  lake  with  the  rest  of  my  tribe," 
replied  Foolhandy. 

"  And  of  what  tribe  or  nation  are  you  ? "  asked 
Waldron. 

"  I  'spose  I'm  a  fresh-water  merman,"  said  the  fool,  as 
he  drew  a  greasy  bone  and  a  mouldy  crust  from  his  pocket. 
"  Does  any  body  want  some  of  my  supper  ?  They  may 
have  some  to  pay  for  what  I've  ate  to-night."  And  as  he 
spoke  he  thrust  them  under  the  nose  of  Waldron,  who 
started  back  in  disgust  and  got  out  of  his  way  as  soon  as 
possible. 

"  Are  there  any  Indians  in  this  part  of  the  country  ?  " 
asked  Gridley. 

"  0,  yes,"  replied  the  fool ;  "  lots  of  'em  ;  and  I  am  going 
among  them  to-morrow  ;  and  I  guess  you  won't  be  'round 
here  long  after  that,  I  can  tell  you." 


424  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

"  You  would  not  betray  us,  would  you?"  asked  Gridley. 

"  I  wouldn't  betray  them,"  replied  the  fool,  "  with  their 
handsome  squaws,  the  handsomest  that  ever  turned  out  of 
a  dark  night  to  a  courting  match." 

"  Turned  out ! "  repeated  English.    "  Turned  out  what  ?  " 

"  A  bucket  of  water  on  to  a  fool's  head,  by  Gad ! "  replied 
Foolhandy.  "  But,"  continued  he,  "  I'll  tell  you  all  about 
'em,  just  to  pay  'em  for  that  scurvy  trick." 

*  You've  been  there,  then  ?  "  inquired  English. 

"  Shouldn't  wonder  if  I  had,"  rejoined  the  fool ;  "  and  the 
way  they'll  play  on  the  flute  and  court  beats  all  natur'. 
Tum-te-tum." 

"  But,  Mr.  Foolhandy,"  said  English,  "  do  you  know  of 
any  English  captives  there  ?  " 

"  Foolhandy  and  I  saw  some  once,  and  they  were  kept 
in  prison." 

"  Do  you  know  the  whereabouts  of  that  prison  ?  "  asked 
English. 

"  That's  what  we  want  to  know,"  cried  Rogers,  earnestly  ; 
while  all  the  officers  sprang  upon  their  feet  and  gathered 
around  the  fool.  The  fool,  however,  made  no  reply,  but 
kept  dancing  and  singing  his  "  tum-te-tum  "  until  English, 
with  tears  in  his  eyes  and  in  a  trembling  voice,  repeated 
his  question. 

"  Well,"  replied  he,  "  I  knows  who  does  know  where  the 
prison  is." 

"  Then  why  not  tell  us  ?  "  cried  English,  impatiently. 

"It's  the  fellow  that  comes  from  the  great  owl  king's  nest 
and  who  catches  his  prey  for  him.  The  owl  king's  wing 
is  as  broad  as  a  cloud,  and  he  eats  twelve  Hingins  for  break- 
fast every  morning." 

"  And  who  is  he  ?  "  asked  English,  almost  beside  himself. 

"  It  is  Foolhandy,"  answered  the  fool. 

"  And  that  is  yourself,  is  it  not  ?  "  asked  English. 

"It  was,"  answered  the  fool,  "  when  the  old  guard  of  the 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  425 

prison  backed  off  his  beat,  for  fear  I  should  carry  him 
off." 

"  And  will  you  go  with  us,"  said  English,  "  and  show  us 
the  prison  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  cried  the  fool,  "  if  you  make  me  cap'n." 

"  We'll  make  you  any  thing,"  replied  Rogers,  "  if  you 
will  go.  I  will  give  you  up  my  commission  if  you  will 
do  it." 

"  Well,"  replied  the  fool,  after  dancing  and  singing  a  mo- 
ment, "  now  listen  to  your  new  major.  It  is  a  long  way 
there,  and  we  must  be  there  by  to-morrow  night.  And  the 
woods  where  my  old  Towzer  lays  hid  under  the  leaves 
must  be  reached  by  this  time  in  the  evening.  Therefore, 
when  the  first  bright  star  backs  out  to  give  place  for 
Aurora,  be  sure  you  awake  your  new  major." 

And,  again  singing  out  his  "  tum-te-tum,"  the  fool  dropped 
upon  the  ground  and  was  fast  asleep  before  the  others 
could  get  to  their  blankets. 

English  now  turned  to  the  officers  and  exclaimed,  "  Thus 
far  hath  Fortune  helped  us  ;  let  us  trust  still." 

"  We  have  been  prospered,"  said  Waldron,  warmly, 
"  beyond  our  most  sanguine  expectations." 

"  Yes,"  replied  both  Walcott  and  Gridley  ;  "  and  if  we 
continue  to  prosper  thus  to  the  end  we  will  have  a  day  of 
thanksgiving  and  rejoicing." 

"  A  day ! "  repeated  Waldron.     "  A  lifetime  you  mean." 

A  strong  guard  was  now  placed  around  the  encampment 
and  all  was  soon  quiet  and  undisturbed. 

The  next  morning,  at  early  dawn,  the  Mountain  Rangers, 
with  a  fool  for  their  guide,  took  up  their  march  for  the 
village  of  St.  Francis  ;  and,  as  they  had  a  long  day's  march 
before  them,  little  conversation  was  had  save  an  occasional 
exclamation  at  the  picturesque  beauty  of  the  lake  and  its 
adjoining  scenery. 

As  they  passed  by  its  outlet  and  were  travelling  along 
36* 


426  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

the  banks  of  the  river,  Rogers  asked  the  fool  the  name  of 
the  beautiful  stream  along  which  their  course  lay. 

"  They  calls  it  Magog,"  replied  the  fool,  laughing  for 
the  first  time  ;  at  which  all  were  surprised  at  a  laugh  from 
so  sober  a  fool,  and  asked  the  cause  of  his  mirth. 

"  0,"  replied  he, "  only  something  that  popped  into  a  fool's 
head.  Whichever  gets  whipped,  this  will  be  the  last  great 
fight  between  the  Hingins  and  the  English ;  and,  as  I  got 
defeated  when  I  tried  my  skill  single  handed,  I  am  now 
going  again  to  urge  my  suit  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet, 
and  see  if  bullets  will  not  favor  my  claim,  and,  in  de- 
ciding my  own  fate,  decide  that  of  my  country  too." 

All-looked  astonished  to  hear  a  fool  talk  in  this  style. 

They  now  increased  their  speed,  and  at  length,  just  as 
the  darkness  of  early  evening  began  to  settle  down  upon 
the  trees,  reached  the  fool's  head  quarters. 

"  Keep  still,"  commanded  the  fool,  "  or  we  shall  be  heard ; 
and  let  every  man  put  an  extra  bullet  in  his  gun.  Now,  I'm 
going  to  the  owl  king's  nest  to  see  if  the  old  bird  is  on." 

He  then  turned  up  a  huge  pile  of  leaves,  and  drawing  forth 
an  enormous  gun,  together  with  a  knapsack,  exclaimed,  — 

"  0,  yes  ;  here  is  the  old  owl  king  himself.  Some," 
said  he,  addressing  the  gun,  "  call  you  queen's  arm ;  but 
your  right  name  is  owl  king." 

So  saying,  he  ran  his  hand  into  the  leaves  again,  and, 
drawing  out  a  horse  pistol,  exclaimed,  — 

"  Aha !  hatched,  have  you  ?  Well,  I'll  put  this  young 
owl  into  my  pocket  to  scare  the  chickens  with  ;  and,  be- 
sides, there  is  a  bone  there  which  you  can  pick  till  you 
can  git  some  Hingin  flesh.  Now,"  said  he,  as  he  hit  the 
old  gun  a  tremendous  blow  with  his  hand,  "  remember  it 
takes  twelve  Hingins  for  your  breakfast  to-morrow  morn- 
ing ;  and,  with  what  little  I  can  do  for  you,  you  must 
catch  your  own  food  to-night.  Twelve,  and  nothing  short, 
remember.    The  old  guard  is  one  ;  the  two  Hingins  in  the 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  427 

hawk's  tail  who  pushed  the  young  white  Christian  back 
into  prison  so  roughly  will  make  three  ;  Tom  Noble  and 
Occum  five  ;  that  Hingin  gal  that  throwed  the  noggin  of 
water  on  to  my  head  is  six  ;  and  the  other  six  I  will  point 
you  to  when  we  get  there.  You  know  one  of  them  your- 
self ;  for  you  saw  him  jerk  me  by  the  shoulder  the  other 
day  when  I  was  practising  on  the  flute."      • 

He  then  turned  to  the  officers  and  asked,  — 

"  Who  will  go  down  with  me  into  the  village  and  see 
what  the  Hingins  are  about  ?  " 

"  I ! "  responded  all  the  officers  in  a  breath. 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  fool ;  "  not  so  many.  You  will  see 
enough  after  we  have  been  down  and  given  them  a  sly 
peep.  For  one,  I've  seen  too  much  already,  and  that's  the 
reason  why  I  keeps  this  eye  bound  up.  I  see  enough  with 
one  eye." 

The  fool  then  selected  Major  Rogers  and  Captain  Wal- 
dron,  and,  telling  the  others  to  lie  close  upon  the  ground 
until  he  returned,  started  for  the  village. 

It  was  dark,  and  the  wigwams  were  all  lighted  up  with 
greater  brilliancy  than  Foolhandy  had  ever  before  seen 
them.  A  loud  noise  was  now  heard  coming  from  the  great 
council  lodge  ;  and  the  fool,  on  going  near  the  lodge,  as- 
certained that  the  great  dance  was  going  on  which  he  had 
heard  the  Indians  say  was  to  be  given  on  the  recovery  of 
Peeroon,  and  in  honor  of  his  victory  over  the  great  Warn- 
patuck,  the  chief-  of  the  Adirondaks.  On  approaching 
and  peeping  through  the  crevices  of  the  lodge,  they  saw 
Titigaw  and  Peeroon,  with  their  women,  dancing  "the 
Indianese  "  in  the  most  approved  style,  surrounded  by  a 
host  of  admiring  savages. 

"  It  is  just  the  time  and  just  the  hour,"  said  the  fool ; 
"  and  we  haven't  got  here  a  minute  too  soon  ;  for  they 
will  be  sure  to  slaughter  some  of  the  English  in  honor  of 
this  great  carousal." 


428  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

"  We  have  not  a  moment  to  spare,"  said  Waldron ; 
"and  now  show  us  the  prison  where  the  captives  are 
confined." 

"  'Tis  out  of  sight,"  said  the  fool,  "  over  the  hill  and 
among  the  willows  by  the  river's  side.  You  cannot  see 
it  until  you  are  right  upon  it,  and  it  is  watched  by  a 
strong  guarcH*  My  plan  —  if  a  fool  can  have  a  plan  —  is, 
to  make  the  attack  upon  the  great  lodge  where  they  are 
dancing,  and  thus  draw  off  the  attention  of  the  guard, 
while  I,  as  I  know  the  weak  door  of  the  prison,  with  some 
ten  or  a  dozen  good  fellows,  will  cut  round  and  break 
into  the  prison  and  liberate  the  captives." 

"  I  fear,"  said  Waldron,  "  that  ere  this  could  be  done 
the  guard  would  rush  in  and  kill  them." 

"  Old  owl  king,"  replied  Foolhandy,  "  will  attend  to 
him,  never  you  fear." 

"  It  is  the  only  way,  I  really  believe,"  returned  Rogers  ; 
"and,  for  one,  I  consent  to  it." 

"  So  do  I,"  said  Waldron  ;  "  so  now  for  the  woods." 

They  now  returned  to  their  companions  and  announced 
the  plan  of  attack,  which  met  the  approval  of  the  entire 
company,  who  were  impatient  to  be  led  to  the  fray. 

"  We  must  all  make  the  attack  in  a  body  upon  the  great 
lodge  first,"  said  the  fool,  "  and  cut  down  all  we  can  as 
the  Hingins  rush  out,  and  then  a  dozen  of  you  who  will 
keep  by  me  will  be  led  to  the  prison  to  liberate  the  cap- 
tives ;  and  the  other  soldiers  must  fight  until  the  last  red- 
skin drops  or  he  is  dropped  himself." 

"  Soldiers,"  cried  Rogers,  "  are  you  ready  ?  " 

"  All  ready !  "  responded  the  soldiers. 

"  Forward !  "  commanded  Rogers  ;  and  in  a  few  minutes 
the  brave  band  stood  before  the  great  lodge,  with  their 
guns  cocked  and  bayonets  bristling  and  gleaming  in  the 
brilliant  glare  of  light  from  the  windows. 

'*  Let  the  first  platoon,"  cried  Rogers,  "  level  their  guns 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  429 

at  the  windows,  and  the  rest  of  you  reserve  your  fire  until 
the  savages  rush  out.  Ready — aim  —  fire!  "and  as  the 
heavily-charged  guns  rang  through  the  night  air  the  lodge 
was  pierced  and  shattered  by  a  hundred  balls,  and  a  row 
of  Indians  at  each  window  fell  dead  upon  the  floor.  The 
others  rushed  out,  and  the  dreadful  onslaught  commenced. 
The  Indians  had  no  time  to  procure  their  arms,  and  were 
mown  down  by  scores  at  every  discharge  of  the  guns  of 
the  Euglish. 

At  the  first  report  of  the  guns  in  the  village  the  Eng- 
lish prisoners  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  Rozella  cried 
out, — 

"  Lift  up  your  heads  ;  for  the  time  of  our  deliverance  has 
come." 

As  quick  as  thought  Owega  caught  up  every  article  of 
clothing  on  which  she  could  lay  hands,  and,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  the  others,  dragged  the  sheep  from  the  other 
room,  and,  dressing  them  in  the  garments,  shawls,  blankets, 
and  bonnets  she  had  collected,  fastened  some  of  them  upon 
the  benches  around  the  room,  and  others  in  an  upright  po- 
sition to  the  posts  of  the  cabin.  This  done,  they  all  re- 
tired into  the  room  formerly  occupied  by  the  sheep  and 
awaited  the  result.  As  yet  they  could  only  conjecture 
the  nature  of  the  attack,  and  were  fearful  that,  in  case  it 
was  made  by  their  friends,  they  would  be  ignorant  of  the 
location  of  their  prison,  and  consequently  unable  to  find 
it.  While  thus  trembling  and  wavering  between  hope 
and  fear,  Rozella  fancied  she  heard  a  sound  in  the  air 
above  the  lodge  like  the  flapping  of  wings,  and,  looking 
through  an  open  space  or  ventilator  over  the  door,  what 
was  her  joy  to  behold,  thrust  through  and  waving  in  the 
evening  air,  the  same  glorious  banner  she  had  presented 
to  the  Mountain  Rangers  when  they  left  for  Cape  Breton, 
with  the  same  significant  motto,  "  Nil  desperandum,  Chris- 
to  duce,"  shining  upon  its  silken  folds  !     She  sprang  and 


430  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

caught  the  staff  with  such  violence  as  to  wrench  it  from 
the  hand  of  Walcott,  who  had  elevated  it  to  the  aperture 
of  the  lodge,  and,  drawing  it  in,  pressed  it  in  speechless 
joy  to  her  bosom.  She  had  barely  time  to  regain  her  seat 
when  the  door  of  the  apartment  in  which  the  metamor- 
phosed sheep  were  tied  was  forced  open,  and  several  In- 
dians, with  old  Titigaw  at  their  head,  rushed  in,  knife  in 
hand.  As  the  room  was  quite  dark,  and  the  savages  were 
too  hardly  pressed  to  stop  for  a  very  critical  examination 
of  the  supposed  captives,  now  dimly  visible  before  them, 
each  savage  thrust  his  long  knife  into  the  tender  bosoms 
of  the  poor  sheep,  killing  some  and  only  cutting  the  bonds 
of  others,  among  the  last  of  which  was  the  old  horned 
patriarch  of  the  flock,  who,  not  relishing  this  uncalled-for 
attack,  replied  by  a  "  rebutter,"  which  laid  old  Titigaw 
and  one  or  two  others  upon  the  floor.  The  "  outside  bar- 
barians," who  pressed  forward  to  get  a  sight  at  the  pro- 
ceedings within,  were  kept  in  check,  and  finally  compelled 
to  retreat,  by  the  glaring  eyes  and  tremendous  howls  of 
the  enchanted  wolf,  (for  Owega  had  carried  her  robe 
along,)  and  the  next  minute,  and  before  the  prostrate  sav- 
ages within  could  regain  their  feet,  Foolhandy,  Waldron, 
"Walcott,  and  English  rushed  in  and  despatched  the  In- 
dians upon  the  floor.  Then  came  the  rush  of  long-parted 
friends  to  each  other's  embrace,  while  the  welkin  rang 
with  triumphant  shouts  of  joy  and  rejoicing.  Waldron 
clasped  his  idolized  Rozella  in  his  arms  ;  Walcott  seized 
his  long-sought  Elsie  ;  Gridley  enclosed  Mrs.  Langdell 
and  the  Tufton  girls  in  one  fervid  embrace  ;  while  the 
good  squire  threw  his  arms  around  Mr.  Tufton  and  went 
into  one  of  the  real  old-fashioned  shuffles  with  such  zeal 
and  spirit  that  his  shoe  buckles  flew  one  way  and  his 
knee  buckles  the  other,  all  giving  way  together.  Owega, 
still  in  her  wolfskin,  was  capering  about  the  room  and 
howling  for  joy. 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  431 

"  Attention  !  "  cried  the  fool  in  a  tone  of  authority  ;  and 
as  Owega  came  out  of  her  wolfskin  he  tore  the  bandage 
from  his  eye ;  and  there  stood  the  identical  Comical  Plump 
whom  they  had  kicked  out  of  their  company  at  the  Buck's 
Horn  Inn  and  left  upon  the  stone  by  the  side  of  the  road  ! 
The  soldiers,  letting  their  joy  overcome  their  shamef  all 
bounded  forward  and  greeted  him  warmly  as  the  hero  of 
the  day  ;  and  Rozella  now  recognized  him  as  Silas  Dustin, 
one  of  her  former  neighbors,  and  a  brother  of  the  poor 
blind  Sarah  whom  she  used  so  often  to  assist  and  comfort 
in  her  many  afflictions. 

"  I  told  you/'  said  Comical  Plump,  "  that  I  could  see  as 
far  as  any  of  you  if  my  eyes  were  not  so  handsome." 

"And  I,"  said  George  English, "  told  you,  in  my  ghost  story 
in  the  woods,  there  was  a  little  rusty  key  which  the  soldiers 
kicked  from  their  midst,  and  which  said  that  it  could  turn 
as  large  a  bolt  as  a  longer  one  and  let  you  into  the  mys- 
teries of  your  idol  and  ideal  charmers.  This,  gentlemen," 
said  he,  pointing  to  Duston,  "  is  the  key  ;  and  I  submit  it  to 
yourselves  if  he  has  not  turned  the  bolt  handsomely.  The 
rest  of  the  ghost  story,"  said  English,  "  you  will  now  un- 
derstand ;  for  Benefice  Castle  stands  not  in  Old,  but  in  New 
England." 

"  But  the  mysterious  lady !  "  cried  Gridley,  wildly.  "  If 
the  bolt  is  turned  and  the  mystery  unlocked,  where  is  she  ?  " 

English  and  Dustin  flew  through  the  other  room  to  the 
door,  and  in  bounded  the  beautiful  ideal  of  Grizzly  Grid- 
ley,  holding  in  her  hand  the  same  little  silver  candlestick, 
and  looking  more  charmingly  than  ever. 

Gridley  staggered  and  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
and,  quite  beside  himself  with  joy,  bounded  forward  and 
clasped  her  in  his  arms  as  his  hat  fell  to  the  floor. 

"  O ! "  shouted  both  Squire  Langdell  and  Mr.  Tufton,  as 
they  staggered  forward  faint  with  excitement. 

"  My  daughter  Georgietta ! "  said  the  squire,  as  he  caught 
her  in  his  arms. 


432  LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA. 

"  My  long-lost  son !  "  at  the  same  time  shouted  Mr.  Tuf- 
ton,  as  he  caught  Gridley  around  the  neck.  "  I  know 
him  by  his  spotted  hair,  more  beautiful  than  a  starry  leop- 
ard from  the  sky." 

"  My  dear  daughter !  "  "  My  only  sister ! "  hysterically 
laughed  Mrs.  Langdell  and  Rozella,  as  they  flew  and  caught 
Georgietta  in  their  arms  ;  and  Elsie,  with  her  younger  sis- 
ters, fell  upon  the  bosom  of  Gridley  and  embraced  him  as 
their  long-lost  brother,  of  whose  sad  fate  their  father  had 
so  frequently  and  tenderly  reminded  them. 

As  Mr.  Tufton  spoke  of  Gridley's  hair,  Rozella  looked 
and  knew  him  as  the  one  whom  the  reader  may  recollect 
as  the  bright  lad  of  some  sixteen  summers  who  was  for- 
merly servant  to  the  French  priest  at  Norridgewock,  and 
who  was  liberated  with  the  other  captives  at  that  battle 
and  went  with  the  soldiers  to  Maine  under  Harmon  and 
Moulton. 

"  You  once  said,"  remarked  English  to  Gridley,  "  if  you 
could  hear  the  mysterious  lady  say,  ■  Gridley,  I  am  thine ! ; 
you  would  fight  through  grizzly  bears  to  hear  it." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Gridley  ;  "  and  I  say  so  now." 

"  Then,"  said  Georgietta,  "  with  my  parents'  consent,  I 
am  thine." 

They  both  bowed  their  approval,  and  all  raised  their 
eyes  to  heaven  in  gratitude. 

Wiley  Walcott  now  for  the  first  time  found  opportunity 
to  address  her  of  whom  he  had  dreamed  so  long,  and  flew 
to  Elsie,  and,  with  his  heart  overflowing  with  love,  said,  — 

"  Miss  Tufton,  I  have  suffered  long  and  toiled  hard  to 
gain  the  ideal  of  my  heart.     Will  you  be  mine  ?  " 

Elsie  modestly  blushed  "Ye  — ; "  but  before  she  could 
finish  that  short  word  her  eyes  met  with  others  which  she 
thought  she  must  have  seen  before ;  and  as  she  glanced 
over  the  lineaments  of  a  once  familiar  face,  now  standing 
boldly  out  from  the  paint  and  beard  of  George  English,  — 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  433 

who  raised  his  hat,  when  his  locks  dropped  from  beneath 
it,  rolled  in  pink  papers,  —  there  stood  revealed  the  identical 
Charles  Cutts,  just  as  she  had  left  him  on  the  evening  of 
the  great  massacre  at  the  Cocheco  garrisons ! 

"  Ghosts  and  love  snarls ! "  shouted  Comical  Plump,  as 
Elsie  sprang  from  the  grasp  of  Walcott  and  bounded  into 
the  arms  of  her  own,  and  as  all  save  Plump  and  Georgietta 
supposed  dead,  Charles  Cutts. 

She  was  faint  and  senseless  ;  but  English,  alias  Cutts, 
and  Plump  had  expected  this  result,  and  were  provided 
with  restoratives,  the  application  of  which  soon  brought 
her  to  herself  again,  the  happiest  of  the  happy  ransomed 
band. 

But  Walcott  sank  upon  the  ground  with  the  keen  shaft 
of  disappointment  rankling  in  his  heart,  which  was  not  so 
easily  extracted,  though  a  reaction  soon  took  place  ;  for  he 
knew  above  all  men  Cutts's  title  stood  recorded  preeminent. 

A  noise  was  now  heard  behind  the  astonished  band  ;  and, 
on  looking  around,  there  were  Comical  Plump  and  Owega 
arm  in  arm  and  dancing  about  the  room. 

"  All  the  officers,"  cried  Plump,  "  in  love  with  ghosts 
and  shadows  j  and  Major  Plump  with  the  handsome  spirit 
Owega,  the  mysterious  Queen  of  the  Mountains." 

"  Admiral,"  said  the  squire,  "  he  deserves  her." 

The  whole  company  now  fell  upon  their  knees  and  re- 
turned thanks  to  Heaven  for  their  safe  deliverance  and 
happy  reunion  after  so  long  and  painful  a  separation. 

As  they  arose,  "  Now,"  said  Comical  Plump,  "  the  old 
owl  king  has  picked  up  his  twelve  Hingins  for  his  break- 
fast ;  and  we  must  rejoin  our  companions  in  arms  at  his 
nest,  where  we  left  our  packs,  or  the  savages  may  rally  and 
give  us  trouble." 

At  the  word  all  started  arm  in  arm,  and  happy,  save  poor 
Walcott,  who  followed  with  his  head  down,  dragging  his 
banner,  and  left  the  lone  hut  among  the  willows  the  only 
37 


434  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

auditor  to  listen  to  the  wild  autumnal  dirge  that  the  winds 
of  heaven  whistled  through  their  drooping  branches. 

After  the  company  of  the  rescued  with  the  soldiers  had 
arrived  at  the  owl  king's  nest  all  gathered  around  the 
glimmering  camp  fire,  whichf  tossed  its  dim  blaze  fitfully 
among  the  trees.  All  looked  wild,  and  moved  restlessly, 
and  spoke  nervously. 

"  Where  is  Comical  Plump  ?  "  asked  the  squire. 

But  no  one  could  answer.  Still  he  was  nowhere  to  be 
found. 

"  Friends,"  said  the  squire,  "  this  is  a  mysterious  affair 
after  all." 

"  Indeed  it  is,"  replied  Elsie  Tufton,  as  she  drew  her 
arm  from  that  of  Charles  Cutts  and  glared  wildly  into 
his  face.  * 

"He  was  fairly  dead,"  said  Rozella.  And  all  moved 
from  him  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  camp,  and  turned  and 
looked  at  him,  and  imagined  his  face  looked  cloudy  and 
dark  through  the  dancing  blaze. 

"  Friends,"  said  Mr.  Tufton, "  this  is  a  dream  —  all  a 
dream." 

"  It  must  be,"  responded  tremblingly  all  the  ransomed 
captives. 

A  loud  noise  was  now  heard  outside  the  ring,  and 
Comical  Plump  replied, — 

"  Yes,  a  dream  ;  and  you  all  now  see  the  nightmare,"  as 
he  hit  her  a  smart  rap,  and  Chocorua's  old  white  horse 
the  Indians  had  taken  from  Laconia  bounded  into  the 
ring,  and  all  gave  a  wild  scream,  which  ended  in  one  of 
Plump's  ringing  laughs,  given  so  heartily  it  brought  them 
all  to  their  senses  again, 

"Now,  then,"  said  the  squire,  "we  must  have  an  ex- 
planation ;  for  you  have  been  talking  about  unlocking 
the  mysteries,  and  you  have  thrust  all  the  captives  through 
the  same  strange  door  into  the  mysterious  cells  from  which 


LEGENDS  OF    LACONIA.  435 

you  have  emerged.  Charles  Cutts,"  continued  the  squire, 
"  what  right  have  you  to  be  alive,  and  why  are  you  and 
Georgietta  here?  The  one  we  thought  well  dead,  and 
the  other  thousands  of  miles  away  across  the  deep,  blue 
sea." 

"  'Tis  the  very  question,"  said  Cutts,  "  I  am  as  anxious 
to  answer  as  you  are  to  hear  answered.  Friends," 
said  Cutts,  "  I  suppose  the  most  mysterious  thing  about 
me  is  my  hair."  And  at  the  same  time  he  raised  his 
hat  again  and  took  off  a  large  wig  and  held  in  his 
hand.  "This,"  said  he,  "is  the  same  hair  that  Elsie 
Tufton  rolled  in  the  pink  papers  the  night  of  the  great 
massacre  at  Cocheco.  It  was  that  night,  to  be  sure,  so 
completely  bathed  and  clotted  in  my  own  blood  it  would 
have  tasked  a  cooler  brain  than  Miss  Elsie's  to  have  dis- 
tinguished it  from  my  own  scalp.  A  disease  of  my  natu- 
ral scalp  had  taken  off  my  own  hair,  for  which  I  substi- 
tuted this.  And  a  good  substitute  it  proved  ;  for  it  saved 
my  life  when  the  handsome  crossbreed  secured  the  scalp. 
It  was  left  in  the  garrison  after  Elsie's  insanity,  from 
which  it  was  carried  to  her  father's  house,  where  Dustin 
found  it,  and  may  relate  its  history  after  it  fell  into  his 
hands ;  for  I  had  not  seen  it  since  until  this  very  night. 
After  reaction  commenced  from  the  dreadful  wounds," 
continued  Cutts,  "  I  received  at  the  garrison,  I  was  claimed 
by  Squando  as  a  substitute  for  his  child  which  the  English 
had  destroyed  by  upsetting  the  canoe  in  the  Saco,  in 
which  his  squaw  was  carrying  it.  As  soon  as  I  could 
walk  I  was  taken  to  the  St.  Croix  and  kept  as  a  prisoner 
until  I  finally  made  my  escape  and  arrived  in  Laconia 
just  as  the  Rangers  were  recruiting  for  this  expedition. 
I  fortunately  came  across  Dustin,  with  whom  I  had  a  long 
interview,  and  learned  the  whole  history  and  fate  of  my 
friends.  I  proceeded  to  Boston  and  had  also  an  interview 
with  General  Amherst,  became  the  bearer  of  the  despatch 


436  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

to  the  Mountain  Rangers,  joined  their  company  ;  and  here, 
friends,"  said  Cutts,  with  a  low  bow,  "  I  am,  your  humble 
servant,  Charles  Cutts." 

All  now  turned  to  Georgietta,  who  thus  addressee* 
them :  — 

"  I  came  to  America,"  said  she,  "  dear  father,  in  obe- 
dience to  your  summons.  I  reached  your  house,  which  1 
named  Benefice  Castle,  the  night  the  soldiers  returned 
from  the  Cape  Breton  expedition,  and  drove  out  the  plot 
of  fortune  tellers  which  had  congregated  there." 

"  Horror !  "  interrupted  Rozella. 

"  So  I  said  at  the  time,"  replied  Captain  Waldron. 

"  I  know  you  did,"  continued  Georgietta,  "  and  some 
other  things  you  might  not  wish  me  to  repeat." 

"  Certainly,"  blushed  the  captain ;  "  skip  the  hard 
words." 

"  I  will,"  said  Georgietta,  "  and  the  soft  ones  too.  I 
passed  the  night  at  the  old  castle,  but  went  not  to  bed 
nor  to  sleep.  When  I  passed  out  broken  hearted  next 
morning  I  also  saw  Silas  Dustin,  looking  at  the  old 
house,  to  whom  I  made  myself  known  and  unbosomed  all 
my  sorrows.  He  took  me  to  his  mother's,  where  I  stopped 
with  blind  Sarah  and  with  old  Mrs.  Emond,  and  thought 
not  of  coming  to  escort  you  home  until  Plump  returned 
after  having  been  expelled  from  the  Mountain  Rangers. 
He  was  determined  to  come  alone  ;  which  all,  even  old 
Mrs.  Emond,  advised  him  to  do.  From  that  moment  I 
was  resolved  to  accompany  him,  to  meet  my  dear  parents 
and  sister  at  their  recapture,  or  share  their  fate  if  the 
expedition  should  fail.  I  have  a  comfortable  bow  house 
over  the  hills,  between  the  high  rocks,  where  no  Indian's 
eye  could  ever  detect  me,  where  I  have  dwelt  with  safety, 
awaiting  this  happy  hour  of  your  deliverance.  As  the 
soldiers  started  from  owl  king's  nest,  I  was  near  ;  for 
Plump  gave  me  the  signal  as  the  soldiers  passed,  and  I 


LEGENDS   OP   LAC0N1A.  437 

/olio wed  down  the  bank  of  the  river  as  Dustin  had  pre- 
viously directed  me,  to  enter  the  prison  after  the  soldier3 
&nd  be  in  at  the  great  jubilee,  as  I  was  enabled  to  do." 

"  Now/'  said  Comical  Plump,  "  I  have  not  much  to  say- 
about  the  mysterious  scalp  since  it  came  into  my  posses- 
sion. It  has  done  me  good  service  ;  and  the  blood  that 
poisoned  Tom  Noble  at  the  time  he  secured  it  was  ob- 
tained from  the  wild  cherries  in  the  forest." 

All  now  declared  the  mysteries  satisfactorily  explained. 
The  guard  was  set  and  the  tired  soldiers  slept. 
37* 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII 


Visit  to  the  Battle  Ground.  —  Comical  Plump's  Notions  respect- 
ing Fighting. 


The  next  morning  following  the  dreadful  as  well  as 
joyful  scenes  related  in  our  last  chapter,  the  Mountain 
Rangers,  as  they  returned  to  the  village  to  view  the  ex- 
tent of  their  night's  butchery,  beheld  for  the  first  time 
the  waving  scalps  of  the  murdered  English,  still  suspended 
upon  poles  around  the  lodges,  where  they  had  been  hung 
by  the  bloody  savages  on  their  return  from  the  massacre 
of  Fort  William  Henry.  And,  although  the  sun  rose  as 
brightly  and  majestically  as  ever,  its  cheering  rays,  as 
they  fell  upon  the  village  of  St.  Francis,  were  not  greeted 
by  the  joyous  tenants  who  were  wont  at  morning's  dawn 
to  come  forth  and  welcome  his  gladdening  beams;  but 
they  fell  upon  such  a  mass  of  piled  and  mangled  corpses 
which  had  fallen  in  one  short  night  before  the  swift  shaft 
of  death  as  would  be  hard  to  parallel  upon  the  broad 
continent  of  America.  As  the  soldiers  gazed  upon  the 
hideous  spectacle,  their  hearts  reproved  them  for  having 
done  such  inhuman  work  ;  and  many  a  rough,  stern  bosom 
heaved  a  sigh  of  regret  as  he  surveyed  the  heaps  of  the 
slain  and  felt  the  keen  barbs  of  remorse  rankling  in  his 
inmost  heart.  But  what  less  could  he  have  done,  when 
all  that  was  dear  to  a  soldier's  heart  —  yea,  dearer  than 
life  itself — was  pining  in  hopeless  captivity,  and  subject, 

(438) 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  439 

at  the  passing  caprice  or  passion  of  their  savage  captors, 
to  be  dragged  out  to  cruel  tortures  and  a  lingering 
death  ? 

"  I  may  reason  as  a  fool,"  cried  Comical  Plump,  "  and 
after  the  fashion  of  the  world  ;  but  to  me  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  war  and  bloodshed  is  wrong  and  of  the  devil,  and 
had  its  origin  in  the  lowest  pit  of  darkness,  where  the 
great  commander-in-chief  holds  his  '  grand  marquee  ; '  and 
all  the  instruments  of  death,  not  excepting  even  the  old 
owl  king,  who  picked  off  his  dozen  Hingins  for  breakfast, 
are  but  the  tools  with  which  he  works  in  his  efforts  to 
keep  back  the  progress  of  the  law  of  love,  which  should, 
ere  this,  have  leavened  the  whole  mass  of  humanity,  not 
excepting  even  that  hard,  cold  lump — an  Indian's  heart. 
0,  when  I  lay  this  head  upon  its  last,  dusty  pillow,  let  no 
monument  or  shaft,  with  the  words, '  Here  lies  a  hero,' 
inscribed  upon  it,  rise  above  me.  Sooner  let  the  spot  be 
unknown  and  uncared  for,  and  the  tangled  wild  brier  and 
sweet  fern  overshadow  it,  or  the  creeping  evergreen  weave 
a  green  mantle  of  charity  over  a  heart  that,  with  all  its 
failings,  had  never  refused  to  move  in  pity  for  others' 
woes.  Ay,  if  in  the  hollow  of  this  fat,  freckled  hand," 
continued  Plump,  as  he  held  it  out  over  the  ghastly  corpse 
of  an  Indian  warrior,  "  in  the  morning  of  the  resurrection, 
should  be  found  one  pearly  teardrop  from  the  eye  of  one 
whose  griefs  I  had  assuaged  or  whose  woes  I  had  light- 
ened, I  should  be  prouder  than  though  all  the  glittering 
diadems  of  earth's  mightiest  conquerors  were  lying  in  my 
grasp.  And  whoever  prays  for  the  success  of  an  in- 
vading army  virtually  asks  the  great  Father  of  all  to 
assist  one  portion  of  his  children  to  kill  and  murder 
another." 

"  And  therefore,"  said  Captain  Waldron,  "  Major  Com- 
ical Plump,  the  originator  and  leader  of  the  late  bloody 
attack,  would  fold  his  arms  in  listless  inaction,  and  even 


440  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

lose  his  own  life,  while  his  nearest  and  dearest  friends 
were  butchered  before  his  eyes,  rather  than  strike  a  blow 
for  their  defence." 

"  I  have  already  said,"  replied  Plump,  "  that  it  was  a 
fool's  reasoning,  at  least  in  the  estimation  of  the  world  ; 
but  I  also  said  the  whole  system  was  wrong  ;  and  I  think  so ' 
still.  Now,  if  you  will  only  look  back  to  the  time  when 
the  garrisons  at  Cocheco  were  first  attacked,  you  will  see 
that  one  murder  has  led  to  hundreds  of  others  ;  and  thus, 
by  doing  wrong  ourselves,  we  make  our  brother  to  offend  ; 
and,  for  one,  when  I  get  home,  I  shall  put  old  owl  king 
carefully  away  where  he  can  do  no  further  mischief  ;  for, 
if  meat  maketh  my  brother's  gun  to  offend,  mine  shall 
taste  no  more  flesh  while  the  world  stands.  Look,  now, 
upon  this  lifeless  body,  with  the  little  stars  and  half  moons 
of  mica,  or  isinglass,  so  tastefully  fastened  in  her  hair ! 
She  it  was  who,  in  the  first  flush  and  glow  of  youth  and 
beauty,  came  to  the  musical  call  of  her  Indian  lover,  Oc- 
cum,  as  he  warbled  his  simple  love  notes  to  the  evening 
air.  Those  eyes,  now  so  dim  and  lustreless,  were  then 
liquid  with  love's  fond  tenderness  and  outvied  the  stars 
in  their  flashing  brilliancy  ;  and  that  bounding  heart, 
through  which  the  warm  blood  of  kindling  affection 
poured  its  thrilling  tide,  is  stilled  at  the  very  height  of 
its  overflowing  bliss." 

"  Yes,"  sighed  Rozella,  as  she  approached  the  spot ; 
"  she  was  the  same  kind  young  squaw  who  invited  me  to 
go  to  the  boat  ride,  and  whose  skilful  hand  made  the  little 
canoe  skip  and  dance  over  the  waves  with  as  impercepti- 
ble a  wake  as  that  left  by  a  swallow  as  he  dips  his  light 
wing  in  the  placid  waters  ;  and  she  it  was  who,  with  her 
companions,  presented  me  the  fish  and  wished  us  so  much 
happiness.  And  how  have  we  repaid  them  ?  I  almost 
wish  we  had  died  in  captivity  rather  than  that  they  should 
have  perished." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  441 

"  And  here,  too,"  said  Plump,  "  is  poor  Occum,  her  lover, 
lying  by  her  side,  faithful  even  unto  death.  His  fingers 
will  never  govern  the  stops  of  that  sweet  flute  again  ;  but 
I  hope  they  may  one  day  wake  a  more  heavenly  harmonv 
as  they  sweep  the  thrilling  wires  of  harps  immortal. 
Here,  too,  lies  Tom  Noble,  who  also  was  one  of  the  vic- 
tims of  the  great  owl  king." 

They  were  here  advised  by  Captain  Waldron,  and  all 
returned  to  old  owl  king's  nest ;  and  the  same  day,  that 
is,  the  day  succeeding  the  attack  upon  St.  Francis,  the 
soldiers  and  their  friends  departed  for  Laconia. 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 


Departure  from  St.  Francis  for  Laconia.  —  Skirmish  "with  the  In- 
dians and  other  Incidents  by  the  Wayside.  — They  leave  fob 
Home.  —  Charles  Cutts  and  Elsie  Tufton's  Route. 


"  There  are  some  signs  about  the  forests  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Indian  village,"  said  Major  Rogers,  as  he 
arose  from  his  breakfast,  "  that  induce  me  to  think  that 
more  Indians  have  escaped  than  we  at  first  supposed.  At 
any  rate,  I  think  we  had  better  be  on  our  homeward 
march  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  I  am  of  the  same  opinion,"  replied  Captain  Waldron  ; 
"  for  I  am  quite  sure  I  saw,  this  morning,  a  live  redskin 
creeping  along  the  shore  of  the  river  under  the  willows  ; 
and  there  may  be  others  similarly  concealed." 

The  English  forces  were  now  marshalled,  and,  slinging 
their  knapsacks,  the  order  to  advance  was  given,  and  they 
took  up  the  line  of  march  for  their  distant  homes.  For 
the  first  two  days  the  whole  company  were  to  keep  the 
same  route  by  which  they  had  come,  and  then  Major 
Rogers  and  the  brave  soldiers  who  had  joined  the  Mountain 
Rangers  at  Crown  Point  were  to  leave  them  and  proceed 
to  Number  Four.  As  they  advanced  at  as  rapid  a  pace  as 
was  consistent  with  the  powers  of  endurance  of  the  female 
part  of  their  band,  they  were  surprised  at  finding  that 
Marine  Lee  and  Comical  Plump  were  again  missing.  The 
company  halted  for  a  moment  to  consult  whether  it  was 

(442) 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  443 

not  advisable  to  return  for  them  ;  but  on  Lieutenant  Grid- 
ley's  suggesting  that,  as  they  were  doubtless  aware  of  the 
advance  of  the  company,  they  would  soon  overtake  the 
main  body,  the  Rangers  again  proceeded  on  their  way. 
The  path  was  nothing  but  an  Indian  trail,  with  logs  and 
trees  lying  across  it,  and  so  narrow  that  they  were  obliged 
to  go  in  Indian  file.  They  had  proceeded  but  a  few  miles 
when  they  heard  the  report  of  two  ordinary  guns  directly 
behind  them,  followed  by  the  deafening  roar  of  the  old 
owl  king. 

"  Trouble  there,"  cried  Waldron. 

"  We  shall  have  enough  to  do  yet,"  said  Major  Rogers. 

They  kept  on  until  they  reached  a  little  natural  opening 
in  the  woods,  where  they  halted  again  for  consultation. 
Soon  they  were  surprised  at  the  sound  of  horses'  feet  in 
the  path  by  which  they  had  come,  and  in  a  moment  Major 
Comical  Plump  swept  through  the  bushes,  minus  both 
"  hat  and  wig,"  upon  Titigaw's  wild  horse,  which  he  had 
taken  from  his  bow  house  ;  and  close  in  his  rear  rode 
Marine  Lee  upon  the  horse  of  Squire  Langdell,  which  the 
Indians  took  with  the  captives,  and  singing  out  in  true 
nautical  style,  — 

"  Land  ho  !  harbor  ahead  ! " 

They  had  used  ropes  for  bridles ;  but  one  of  Plump's 
reins  had  been  completely  severed  by  an  Indian's  bullet, 
shot  at  the  time  the  company  heard  the  first  reports. 

"  How  is  this,  Major  Plump  ?  "  cried  Waldron,  as  Com- 
ical jumped  from  his  horse. 

"  Nothing,"  replied  Plump  ;  "  only  old  owl  king  has 
been  taking  down  another  Hingin,  just  for  a  lunch." 

"  But,"  said  Rozella,  "  I  thought  you  said  this  morning, 
when  you  preached  such  a  sermon  over  the  poor  slaughtered 
Indians,  that  old  owl  king  should  never  have  any  more  meat." 

"  Force  of  circumstances,  ma'am,"  said  Comical,  blush- 
ing ;  "  and,  besides,  what  I  said  was,  that,  after  I  got 


444  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

home,  I  should  put  him  away  where  he  wouldn't  do 
any  more  mischief.  I  supposed  we  should  have  trouble 
in  getting  through  these  woods,  and  that  I  should  have  to 
let  the  old  fellow  have  a  bite  now  and  then.  Always, 
between  two  evils,  choose  the  least,  is  the  rule,  you  know, 
among  genteel  people  when  they  want  an  excuse  for  do- 
ing a  base  act.  But  what  else  could  I  have  done  ?  You 
see,  the  Hingin  let  slip  at  me,  but  only  cut  off  one  of  the 
reins  of  my  bridle  ;  and  even  then  I  waited  for  Lee  to 
bring  him  down  ;  but  when  he  missed  him  I  just  let  old 
owl  king  drive  hi3  beak  through  his  back,  and  down  he 
went  like  a  billet  of  wood.  As  he  fell,  we  heard  the 
bushes  beyond  him  cracking  with  more  of  the  red  dogs ; 
so  we  left  without  even  saying  '  Good  by.' " 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on  the  horses  were 
being  prepared  for  the  use  of  the  ladies,  upon  which  they 
were  placed. 

"  Now,  Major  Plump,"  said  Captain  Waldron,  after 
they  had  again  started,  "  how  did  you  know  where  those 
horses  were  ?  " 

"  0,"  replied  he,  "  I  heard  them  neigh  one  night  when  I 
was  down  in  the  village  raising  handsome  spirits  ;  and  I 
wondered  then  what  would  become  of  the  poor  beasts  after 
we  had  put  the  hostlers  out  of  the  way  ;  but  it  has  worked 
enough  sight  better  than  I  feared  'twould  then." 

The  Rangers  kept  directly  up  the  river  Magog  until 
they  arrived  nearly  to  the  outlet,  where  they  found  a  nar- 
row place,  over  which  they  crossed  on  a  fallen  log,  while 
the  horses  swam  across.  As  they  struck  the  eastern  shore 
of  the  lake  and  advanced  along  its  borders,  all  hoped  that 
they  were  now  safe  from  further  molestation  from  the  In- 
dians, whom  they  were  confident  were  rallying  in  their 
rear.  As  night  approached,  the  tired  Rangers  and  their 
wearied  "  recaptured  captives  "  began  to  think  seriously 
of  encamping,  although  it  was  evident,  from  the  appear- 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  445 

ance  and  cries  of  the  wild  birds  as  they  hovered  over  their 
track  for  miles  back  as  well  as  over  their  own  heads,  that 
the  Indians  were  on  their  track  ;  and  several  soldiers 
were  quite  sure  that  in  the  course  of  the  day  they  had 
heard,  far  in  the  rear,  the  report  of  a  gun.  The  officers 
now  searched  for  a  spot  as  clear  as  possible  from  trees, 
and  especially  from  underbrush,  so  that  the  Indians  might 
not  creep  upon  them  unawares,  and,  having  selected  a 
spot  pitched  their  tents  for  the  night.  Tender  boughs  and 
what  grass  could  be  found  were  cut  up  for  the  horses, 
the  supper  eaten  in  silence,  and  then  the  soldiers  huddled 
together  in  little  groups,  while  a  strong  guard  of  twenty 
picked  men  were  placed  at  equal  distances  from  the  men 
whose  turn  to  sleep  came  first.  The  wolves  were  howling 
as  usual  through  the  forest,  while  from  the  lake  resounded 
the  hoarse  cry  of  the  great  loon  ;  but  the  stars  twinkled 
hopefully  in  the  serene  night  air,  and  the  new  moon,  with 
its  white  rim,  shone  like  an  ornament  of  silver  inlaid  in 
the  blue  groundwork  of  the  azure  sky. 

Squire  Langdell  then  called  upon  his  daughter  Georgi- 
etta  to  again  repeat  the  mysterious  history  of  her  life 
since  he  left  her  in  England. 

She  complied  with  the  request ;  and  as  she  finished,  the 
soldiers,  forgetting  the  imminent  dangers  to  which  they 
were  exposed,  now  gave  three  cheers  for  the  heroic 
Georgietta  Langdell ;  and  their  echoes  hardly  died  away 
ere  they  were  answered  by  the  rattling  volley  of  the  guns 
of  the  Indians,  whose  bullets  cut  the  branches  of  the  trees 
above  their  heads,  which  fell  in  the  midst  of  the  group  of 
women  beneath. 

The  little  rim  of  the  moon,  which  had,  until  then,  been 
peeping  out  to  show  the  world  a  sample  of  the  light  waves 
of  the  sky,  had  now  drawn  in  her  horns  and  retired  qver 
the  western  hills,  leaving  the  woods  with  all  their  dangers 
in  complete  darkness.  Two  or  three  of  the  guard  had 
38 


446  LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA. 

fallen  ;  but  the  soldiers  rushed  bravely  to  the  spot  whence 
the  firing  proceeded,  and  the  fight  commenced  on  both 
sides.  A  few  of  both  parties  fell  at  the  first  onset ;  but  it 
was  soon  evident  from  the  scattering  fire  of  the  savages 
that  there  were  not  enough  of  the  enemy  to  cause  the 
English  to  fear  a  very  bloody  battle,  but  just  enough  to 
annoy  them  as  they  dodged  from  tree  to  tree  and  fired 
therefrom.  The  soldiers  kept  pressing  upon  them,  and 
every  redskin  whose  dark  shadow  could  be  seen  flitting 
from  one  covert  to  another  was  sure  to  drop  before  their 
unerring  aim.  They  had  now  driven  the  enemy  far  back 
into  the  forest ;  and  from  the  volleys  coming  from  one 
quarter,  where  stood  an  enormous  tree,  they  concluded 
that  a  number  of  the  savages  were  concealed  there.  While 
they  were  planning  how  to  dislodge  them,  and  wondering 
if  Comical  Plump,  whom  they  had  not  seen  since  the  fight 
commenced,  had  at  last  turned  coward  and  run  away,  they 
heard  the  well-known  war  whoop  of  the  old  owl  king 
ring  through  the  woods,  and  the  buck  shot  seemed  to  cut  a 
clean  swath  through  the  bushes  in  front  of  them,  and  four 
swarthy  savages  of  the  number  behind  the  great  tree  fell 
dead  upon  the  ground.  The  remaining  savages,  finding 
that  the  old  owl  king  was  in  their  very  midst,  bounded 
away  in  hot  haste,  but  not  before  the  "  young  'un,"  who 
had  been  picking  the  bone  in  Comical's  pocket  long  enough, 
had  caught  sight  of  live  flesh  in  the  shape  of  a  tall  savage 
and  sent  his  little  beak  directly  through  his  brain. 

"  Half  enough,"  cried  Comical,  as  he  emerged  from  his 
ambush,  "  for  a  breakfast  to-morrow  morning." 

But  the  Indians  had  now  become  panic  struck,  and, 
giving  one  wild  yell,  leaped  from  their  coverts  and  fled. 

"  Another  sermon  upon  your  peace  principles,  Major 
Plump,"  cried  Rozella,  as  the  little  crosseyed  chap  entered 
the  crowd  which  had  collected  around  the  women. 

"Force  of  circumstances,"  again  replied  Plump.     "You 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  447 

know,  'Zella,  that  we  preachers  have  to  keep  in  the  good 
graces  of  the  world  as  well  as  other  folks,  and  sometimes 
have  to  preach  one  way  and  shoot  another.  Besides,  I 
have  not  got  home  yet ;  but  when  I  do  get  where  there 
are  no  rich  and  influential  members  in  my  congregation 
whose  tender  corns  oblige  me  to  tread  softly  and  gin- 
gerly, and  to  avoid  treading  on  which  I  almost  have  to 
take  to  the  gutter  myself,  then  I  shall  plough  a  straight 
furrow,  no  mistake.  And  then  you  know  an  owl  king 
must  have  flesh,  and  human  flesh  too,  to  eat  as  well  as  other 
kings  ;  for  any  throne  would  come  into  contempt  at  once 
and  crumble  to  dust  were  it  not  fed  and  fattened  on  blood." 

"  Tut,  tut,  young  man,"  growled  the  old  squire  ;  "  what 
is  that  you  are  saying,  sir  ?  " 

"  When  I  get  home,"  resumed  Plump,  "  my  old  king  will 
abdicate  the  throne  in  favor  of  the  people,  and  will  never- 
more eat  flesh  or  drink  blood  except  in  their  defence." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  squire,  "  this  language  is  sym- 
bolical, metaphorical,  and  mysterious  ;  and  I  should  like  to 
know  if  much  of  this  unloyal  talk  has  been  current  since  I 
left  Laconia,  or  if  any  man  with  a  sound  head  on  his  shoul- 
ders even  thinks  of  turning  rebel  to  the  good  old  king  or 
his  cause." 

"  I  sha'n't  rebel,"  answered  Plump,  "  unless  the  old  owl 
king  smells  human  flesh  in  that  direction.  Heigho ! "  And 
over  he  tipped  for  the  night's  rest,  and  all  but  the  guard 
soon  followed  his  example. 

The  day  succeeding  this  attack,  the  Rangers  ascertained 
that  their  provisions  were  nearly  exhausted  ;  and  as  they 
now  feared  no  further  annoyance  from  the  Indians,  and  as 
they  must  necessarily  soon  take  different  directions  in 
order  to  reach  their  several  homes,  it  was  thought  best  to 
separate,  especially  as  the  different  companies  would 
thereby  be  enabled  to  procure  more  game,  on  which  they 
would  be  obliged  mainly  to  depend,  than  it  was  possible 


448  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

to  do  while  together.  Therefore  Major  Rogers  and  his 
men  struck  off  towards  the  great  bend  of  the  Connecticut, 
while  most  of  the  Rangers  and  their  recaptured  friends 
were  to  cross  the  upper  branch  of  the  same  river.  But 
Charles  Cutts  and  Elsie  Tufton,  with  a  few  others,  directed 
their  course  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Upper  Ammonoo- 
suc,  intending  to  pass  through  the  Crystal  Hills  to  their 
home  by  the  east  side  of  Lake  Winnipiseogee.  They  there- 
fore, with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  bade  each  other  a 
warm  good  by  and  struck  off  in  their  several  routes.  As 
there  were  no  paths,  they  were  guided  in  their  course  by 
the  sun  and  the  small  streams  which  they  knew  must  lead 
to  the  Connecticut. 

They  still  kept  their  horses ;  but  so  thick  were  the  wild 
vines  and  bushes  that  much  of  the  way  it  was  impossible 
to  ride  ;  and,  as  the  women  were  consequently  obliged  to 
walk,  their  progress  was  slower  than  it  otherwise  would 
have  been.  They  met  with  no  game  of  any  magnitude 
during  the  day,  and  had  only  killed  a  few  wild  birds,  as 
their  numbers  and  the  noise  they  made  upon  the  dry  sticks 
and  leaves  frightened  away  all  the  larger  game  ere  they 
got  within  shooting  distance.  Owega  had  easily  kept  up 
with  the  company,  and  had  found  ample  time  to  collect 
nuts  and  roots,  to  the  use  of  which  she  was  more  accus- 
tomed than  the  others,  and  of  which  she  offered  a  portion 
to  her  companions.  Night  now  set  in  ;  and  the  soldiers, 
weary,  worn,  and  discouraged,  with  starvation  staring 
them  full  in  the  face  and  a  long  and  tedious  journey 
through  trackless  forests  and  over  towering  mountains 
before  them,  prepared  to  encamp.  After  the  camp  fires 
were  kindled,  some  of  the  company  busied  themselves  in 
digging  roots  and  gathering  nuts,  and  others  in  col- 
lecting plants  and  tender  shrubs  for  the  horses.  The 
logs  they  had  piled  upon  the  fires  had  scarcely  been  re- 
duced to  coals  when  the  stunning  report  of  the  owl  king 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  449 

came  booming  through  the  night  air,  far  away  in  the 
gloomy  woods ;  and  all  hearts  leaped  with  hope  that  the 
bird  which  had  never  yet  been  known  to  fail  had  brought 
down  some  animal  of  sufficient  size  to  afford  them  a  plentiful 
repast.  Some  of  the  men  started  in  the  direction  whence 
the  report  came,  and  ere  long  returned,  bearing  a  fat  buck, 
slain  by  the  faithful  owl  king.  His  hide  was  speedily 
stripped  off,  and  the  juicy  steak  was  soon  broiled  upon  the 
glowing  coals  and  despatched  with  a  relish  which  needed 
not  the  aid  of  sauce  or  other  condiment.  A  hearty  repast 
was  followed  by  a  dessert  of  the  nuts  which  had  been  col- 
lected ;  and,  on  the  whole,  they  made  a  very  substantial  and 
nourishing  meal. 

"Now,"  said  Squire  Langdell,  as  he  rose  from  his  sup- 
per, "  as  Georgietta  gave  a  short  account  of  herself  last 
evening,  I  should  like  this  evening  to  hear  from  him  whom 
you  call  Comical  Plump.  It  is  true,  he  has  some  erroneous 
ideas  about  kings,  <fcc,  which  I  doubt  not  he  will  outgrow 
as  he  gets  older  ;  but  he  shoots  straight,  and  talks  straight 
too,  though  unfortunately  he  sometimes  talks  one  way  and 
shoots  the  other." 

"  All  owing  to  the  force  of  circumstances/7  replied  Ma- 
jor Plump,  and  then  related  to  the  squire  his  adventures, 
with  the  most  of  which  our  readers  are  already  familiar, 
and  which  we  will  not  repeat. 

His  name,  however,  he  said,  was  Silas  Dustin,  and  he 
lived  on  the  north  road,  about  two  miles  from  the  squire's 
house. 

"  Indeed !  n  said  the  squire.    "  Then  I  know  your  family." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Plump  ;  "  and  I  have  been  at  your 
house  after  milk,  flour,  and  potatoes  often  enough  to  make 
you  know,  me." 

The  good  squire  now  clapped  his  hand  over  Plump's 
mouth  and  cried  out,  "  Don't  mention  that ;  you  have  re- 
paid me  a  thousand  fold  ;  and,  if  I  had  all  the  corn  that 
38* 


450  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

ever  was  in  the  cribs  of  old  Egypt,  it  should  be  yours  in 
welcome." 

"  I  don't  wonder,  squire,"  continued  Plump,  "  that  you 
don't  remember  me  ;  for  I  was  then  a  little  towheaded, 
freckled-faced,  crosseyed  chap ;  and  I  am  so  tanned  now 
that  I  am  all  of  a  piece,  and  no  mistake.  Still  it  was  the 
kindness  of  yourself  and  family  to  our  family  that  has 
made  me  what  I  am  to-day  or  ever  expect  to  be  ;  and  to 
that  guardian  angel,  Rozella,  in  particular,  do  we  owe  our 
very  lives.  After  you  were  carried  off  by  the  Indians  I 
could  not  sleep  for  a  long  time  any  more  than  though  I 
was  on  a  bed  of  hot  embers ;  and  poor  blind  Sarah,  to 
whom  Rozella  used  to  bring  so  many  presents,  walked  the 
house  night  and  day,  wringing  her  hands,  and  crying  until 
her  face  was  nearly  blistered  ;  and  some  nights  she  would 
feel  her  way  along  to  my  bedside,  and,  waking  me,  would 
sit  for  hours  planning  ways  and  means  for  your  deliver- 
ance. And  she  was  anxious  that  I  should  start  alone ; 
but  mother  knew  the  Indians  too  well  for  that,  and  said 
that  would  never  do,  for  I  could  effect  nothing,  and  might 
lose  my  own  life  in  the  attempt.  But  when  the  Mountain 
Rangers  returned  and  the  day  of  their  departure  for  Canada 
was  fixed,  how  glad  did  Sarah  and  mother  and  old  Mrs.  Em- 
ond  feel !  Sarah,  and  Georgietta,  who  was  stopping  with  us, 
clapped  their  hands  and  jumped  up  almost  to  the  ceiling, 
and  they  all  flew  round  like  mad  and  fixed  up  my  things  ; 
and  Sarah,  who  can't  see  whether  the  sun  shines  or  not, 
made  my  shirts  and  knapsack  ;  and  that  dark,  foggy 
morning  that  I  left  for  the  rendezvous,  old  Mrs.  Emond 
came  all  the  way  over  to  our  house  to  see  me  start,  and, 
putting  her  trembling  old  hand  on  my  head  just  as  she 
used  to  on  Rozella's,  gave  me  her  blessing.  I  started 
off  in  real  good  spirits,  not  knowing  but  what  I  was  as 
good  a  soldier  as  any  of  'em,  until  I  got  to  the  Buck's 
Horn  Inn,  when  the  soldiers  laughed  in  my  face  and  voted 
me  out  of  the  company." 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  451 


x 


"  Shame !  shame ! "  cried  the  squire,  as  his  eyes  flushed 
with  indignation. 

"  Can  it  be  possible  ?  w  asked  Rozella,  in  great  surprise. 

"  Captain  Waldron,"  said  the  squire,  " how  is  this?" 

All  now  looked  around  to  where  the  officers  had  been 
standing  ;  but  not  a  man  of  them  was  in  sight.  They  had 
all  sneaked  off  into  the  bushes. 

"  Is  this  so,  Mr.  Lee  ?  "  asked  the  squire,  in  a  severe 
tone. 

"  Even  so,"  replied  Lee  ;  "  but  I  assure  you  no  one  of  the 
company  ought  to  be  blamed  ;  for  we  acted  conscientiously, 
supposing  him  to  be  some  wilful  boy  who  had  come  to 
join  the  soldiers  without  counting  the  cost,  and  that  to 
refuse  him  admitance  would  not  only  be  a  great  favor  to 
his  mother,  but  a  still  greater  one  to  himself.  And  I 
stand  in  for  all  the  blame  or  censure  ;  for  we  knew  noth- 
ing of  him  or  of  his  friendship  for  your  family  ;  and  we 
were  all  taken  by  surprise  when  Foolhandy  threw  off  his 
disguise  and  came  up  Comical  Plump." 

"  I  have  not  blamed  any  one,"  returned  Plump.  "  I  was 
only  telling  the  squire  how  the  thing  happened." 

Upon  this  the  officers  gained  sufficient  courage  to  come 
out  from  their  retreat,  and  the  squire  directed  Plump  to 
proceed. 

"  You  know,  squire,"  resumed  he,  "  that  the  best  Chris- 
tian may  sometimes  have  a  spark  of  infidelity  snap  into 
his  brain  ;  but  if  he  snaps  it  out  again  before  it  has  time  to 
burn,  there  may  be  little  harm  done.  He  may  be  just  as 
good  a  Christian  as  before,  and,  it  may  be,  better  and  more 
watchful.  A  true  patriot,  too,  may  get  a  flash  of  treason 
in  his  mind  when  his  own  side  abuse  him  badly  ;  and  like 
enough  it  was  something  of  this  sort  of  feeling  which  got 
into  me  as  I  sat  on  the  stone  opposite  the  Buck's  Horn 
Inn  ;  but  it  wasn't  the  stone  of  repentance,  any  how. 


452  LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA. 

While  I  sat  there,  the  thought  of  you  and  Rozella,  and  all 
you  had  done  for  me  and  Sarah,  would  have  driven  trea- 
son out  of  the  rock  itself;  and  I  then  planned  the  whole 
expedition  exactly  as  it  has  turned  out.  But  I  thought 
before  I  started  I  would  return  home  and  tell  my  poor 
mother  what  a  promising  son  she  had  raised  and  what  a 
pet  the  soldiers  made  of  him.  When  I  reached  home,  I 
found  all  our  folks  on  their  knees  praying  for  my  success 
and  the  speedy  return  of  the  Langdells. 

"  '  Yes,  mother/  said  I,  '  I  have  been  so  successful  that 
the  Rangers  have  voted  me  out  of  their  company,  and 
would  not  let  me  be  even  a  dog  for  them/ 

"  They  all  rose  to  their  feet  as  I  said  this,  and  Sarah 
commenced  crying.     Mrs.  Emond  then  said,  — 

" '  Don't  be  disheartened,  Silas  ;  you  know  that  the 
stone  which  the  builders  rejected,  the  same  became  the 
head  of  the  corner.' 

"  '  Yes,'  said  I ;  '  but  that  stone  was  a  peace,  and  not  a 
war,  maker." 

" '  But,'  replied  she,  '  was  He  not  willing  to  lay  down 
his  life  for  his  people  ?  Now,  don't  stop  to  preach,  Silas, 
for  practice  is  a  great  deal  better  ;  and,  if  I  were  you,  I 
would  go,  if  I  had  to  go  alone.  And  my  blessing  shall  go 
with  you  and  my  prayers  follow  you.' 

"  I  told  her  that  was  what  I  had  decided  to  do.  So  I 
went  up  stairs  and  got  Cutts's  scalp,  which  I  found  in  the 
garrison,  and  put  in  my  knapsack.  When  I  came  down, 
Georgietta  had  decided  to  accompany  me.  She  was  all 
ready  for  the  start,  and  would  take  no  denial.  So  we 
bade  them  good  by  and  started.  We  passed  through  the 
very  spot  where  we  now  are  ;  and  though  I  don't  like  to 
shoot  any  thing  of  the  female  gender,  I  shot  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Buck,  whose  flesh  you  have  just  been  tasting,  when  we 
got  here,  and  so  knew  pretty  well  where  to  find  him  on 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  453 

my  return.  We  kept  our  course  sometimes  by  the  sun 
and  sometimes  by  the  trees.  There  is  much  more  moss  on 
the  north  side  of  a  tree,  and  it  is  also  longer  and  greener, 
than  on  the  south  side.  Besides,  where  the  trees  are  thick, 
the  limbs  are  generally  larger  on  the  south  side.  Away 
up  by  the  lake  we  met  the  Indians  ;  but  I  had  time  to 
get  my  scalp  out  and  turn  fool  (as  I  didn't  have  to  alter 
my  looks  much)  before  they  saw  me.  Georgietta  was  fa~ 
behind  ;  they  did  not  see  her  ;  and  my  taking  the  char- 
acter of  a  fool  worked  to  a  charm  with  the  Indians,  who 
hold  fools  in  the  most  superstitious  reverence.  And  in 
this  character,  when  I  arrived  at  St.  Francis,  I  soon  found 
out  in  wrhat  wigwam  you  were  kept  by  devising  a  plan 
to  make  the  savages  bring  out  Eozella  to  heal  Tom 
Noble." 

"  Why,  Comical  Plump  ! n  cried  Rozella,  in  astonish- 
ment. "  Was  that  you  I  saw  when  Occum  made  me  put 
my  hand  on  Noble's  brow  that  he  might  be  healed  ?  " 

"  'Twasn't  any  body  else,"  replied  Plump,  laughing. 

"  Well,"  rejoined  Rozella,  "  I  must  confess  that  at  that 
time  I  thought  you  the  greatest  fool  I  had  ever  seen." 

"  But  Noble  was  a  greater  one."  replied  Plump,  "  and 
the  scheme  worked  admirably.  The  rest  of  my  history 
you  all  know,  or  at  least  the  soldiers,  who  may  relate  it 
if  they  choose,  for  I  am  too  tired  to  talk  any  more  to- 
night. Heighho  !  "  And  in  a  moment  Plump  was  sound 
asleep. 

"  A  wonderful  fellow,  that  Comical  Plump,"  said  Squire 
Langdell,  as  the  sound  of  his  snoring  reached  his  ears. 

"  Indeed  he  is,"  replied  Captain  Waldron  ;  "  and  we 
were  all  so  ashamed  of  our  conduct  towards  him  that  we 
did  not  like  to  mention  the  matter  to  you.  But  Lee  has 
stated  it  in  its  true  light,  and  our  greatest  fault  was  a  lack 
of  judgment  in  appreciating  a  man's  true  character.  But 
we  have  talked  the  matter  over,  and  have  come  to  the 


454  LEGENDS  OP  IACONIA. 

unanimous  conclusion  never  to  prejudge  another  man  by 
the  greater  and  lesser  number  of  inches  his  head  reaches 
in  the  air,  the  number  of  freckles  his  face  or  hands  have 
acquired  in  working  in  the  hot  sun  to  support  a  poor 
mother  and  a  blind  sister,  or  the  crossing  of  the  line  of 
vision  of  one  eye  over  that  of  the  other." 


CHAPTER   XL 


The  Mountain  Rangers  and  Captives  beach  Winnipiseogee  Lake. 
—  Depression  op  Spirits  in  Consequence  op  Cutts  and  Elsie's 
Absence.  —  Home  again.  —  Wedding  op  Britton  Waldron  and 
rozella  langdell. 


It  was  nearly  December  ;  but  the  autumn  had  been  re- 
markably mild  and  pleasant,  and  winter  had  delayed  his 
coming  until  a  period  later  than  for  several  previous 
years.  Most  of  the  little  band  of  Rangers,  and  the  ines- 
timable prizes  they  had  so  gallantly  recaptured,  had,  after 
much  suffering,  deprivation,  and  almost  starvation,  reached 
the  head  of  Lake  Winnipiseogee,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
long-left  and  long-loved  Laconia.  Most  of  the  Rangers 
encamped  here  for  the  night ;  but  some  pressed  forward 
to  reach  their  homes.  As  the  camp  fires  began  to  blaze, 
"  Now,"  cried  Rozella,  "  is  our  mourning  changed  to  re- 
joicing, although  we  are  worn  and  weary.  How  happy 
we  should  be,  Mr.  Tufton,  could  we  now  meet  dear  Elsie 
and  Charles  Cutts,  who  were  to  come  by  the  way  of  the 
Ammonoosuc,  and  all  march  into  old  Laconia  together  !  " 

Mr.  Tufton  sighed  deeply,  but  spoke  not  a  word ;  and 
his  two  younger  daughters  wiped  their  eyes,  revealing  at 
once  the  depths  of  their  feelings  and  their  fears.  The 
company,  during  the  day,  had  passed  some  few  houses, 
where  they  had  procured  a  small  quantity  of  food,  but 
which  formed  but  a  light  and  unsubstantial  supper.  Those 
soldiers  who  had  reached  their  homes  by  a  forced  march, 

(465) 


456  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

among  whom  were  Comical  Plump  and  Marine  Lee,  had 
rallied  the  settlers,  who  had  immediately  got  together  all 
the  horses  and  provisions  they  could  lay  their  hands  on 
and  went  out  to  meet  the  Rangers  with  songs  of  joy  and 
rejoicing.  The  women  of  Laconia,  on  hearing  the  joyful 
news  of  the  near  approach  of  their  friends  and  neighbors, 
convened  at  the  house  of  Squire  Langdell  and  gave  it  a 
thorough  cleansing  from  garret  to  cellar.  Every  one  had 
also  brought  a  liberal  portion  of  the  best  she  had  in  her 
possession  with  which  to  feed  and  clothe  the  destitute  and 
famishing  ones,  who  had  once  performed  the  like  office  for 
them.  And  every  body  was  anxious  to  be  there,  to  give 
them  a  most  cordial  and  affectionate  greeting  ;  and  even 
old  Mrs.  Emond  and  blind  Sarah  could  not  be  persuaded 
by  Comical  Plump  to  stay  at  home,  but,  killing  and  dress- 
ing their  fattest  chickens,  had  plodded  their  way  there, 
and  were  now  sitting  by  the  old  garden  gate,  out  of  the 
way  of  the  working  women,  to  await  the  expected  arrival. 

Plump  and  Lee  had,  in  the  mean  time,  returned  to  the 
vicinity  of  Merry  Meeting  to  meet  their  comrades  and 
return  again  with  them.  As  from  an  eminence  they  saw 
the  lake,  Lee  observed,  "How  much  misery,  wretched- 
ness, and  death  one  vile  person  may  cause  !  " 

"  Of  whom  do  you  speak  ?  "  asked  Plump. 

"The  old  scow  boat,"  replied  Lee. 

"  Hush  !  n  cried  Plump.  "  Leave  her  to  her  own  reflec- 
tions. She  will  have  enough  to  grapple  with  ;  though  I 
tear  she  will  ride  the  waves  for  many  a  day  before  she  is 
permitted  to  go  down." 

"  She  won't  be  very  likely  to  ride  in  the  direction  of  Laco- 
nia," replied  Lee  ;  "  for,  if  she  does,  she  knows  her  destiny." 

Their  companions  now  hove  in  sight,  much  rejoiced  to 
see  Plump  and  Lee  and  hear  from  their  friends,  although 
they  had  been  separated  only  for  a  night.  All  now 
marched  on  together  ;  and  as  preparations  had  been  made 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  457 

for  a  grand  reception  supper  at  the  house  of  Squire  Lang- 
dell,  all  proceeded  directly  there  before  going  to  their 
several  homes.  Before  they  reached  the  house,  the  Ran- 
gers paraded  in  military  order  and  marched  in  front  of 
the  recaptured  Laconians.  Plump  was  invited  to  march 
with  the  company  ;  but  it  was  his  turn  now,  and  he  re- 
fused to  do  so. 

"  Right,"  cried  the  old  squire,  as  he  overheard  the  re- 
fusal. "  I  like  the  young  man's  grit,  and  he  shall  march  at 
the  head  of  our  own  little  band." 

"I  shall  be  most  happy  to  do  so,"  replied  Plump,  as  he 
took  the  proffered  position.  As  they  neared  the  house, 
the  Rangers  formed  two  parallel  lines,  between  which  the 
little  captive  band,  with  Plump  at  their  head,  marched 
proudly  into  their  old  home.  Tears,  kisses,  embraces,  and 
shakings  of  the  hand  were  now  the  order  of  the  day  for 
the  next  hour ;  and  blind  Sarah  clapped  her  hands  for 
joy;  while  Mrs.  Emond  went  from  one  to  the  other, 
shading  her  eyes  with  her  hand,  and,  looking  in  the  face 
of  each,  gave  them  her  blessing.  After  she  had  hugged 
and  kissed  Rozella  about  a  dozen  times,  she  said, — 

"I  am  ready  now  to  say,  with  aged  Simeon,  'Lord, 
now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace ;  for  mine 
eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation.'" 

All  were  welcomed  and  treated  alike,  as  they  wished  to 
show  no  partiality  even  if  they  felt  any. 

The  supper  was  now  smoking  upon  the  table ;  and  the 
soldiers  and  the  captives  sat  down  first,  and  all  others 
afterwards.  Squire  Langdell  took  the  head  of  the  table, 
and  insisted  that  Comical  Plump  should  sit  next  upon  his 
right.  The  honor  he  had  received  in  marching  at  the  head 
of  the  captives  and  the  additional  honor  now  conferred 
was  duly  appreciated  by  him,  and  filled  the  heart  of  his 
fond  mother,  and  Mrs.  Emond,  and  blind  Sarah  to  over- 
flowing. Mr.  Tufton,  who  sat  by  the  side  of  his  daughters, 
39 


458  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

still  and  quiet  as  usual,  was  observed  by  Rozella,  at  the 
close  of  the  meal,  to  make  some  remark  to  them ;  where- 
upon all  of  them  burst  into  tears. 

"  Yes,"  said  Rozella,  comprehending  the  nature  of  the 
remark,  "  I,  too,  wish  that  poor  Elsie  and  Cutts  could 
have  some  of  these  good  things,  of  which  we  have  so 
bountiful  a  supply,  in  their  journey  through  the  dark  for- 
ests. If  I  knew  where  to  find  them,  I  would  start  to- 
morrow morning  and  meet  them." 

"  Some  of  us  must  return,"  replied  Gridley,  hardly  able 
to  take  his  eyes  for  a  moment  off  the  face  of  Georgietta, 
"  and  see  if  we  cannot  find  them  ;  for  they  may  be  in  a 
starving  condition,  if,  indeed,  they  are  yet  living." 

But  the  settlers  who  had  remained  at  home  assured 
them  that  they  would  raise  a  party  among  themselves,  as 
the  soldiers  were  too  worn  and  fatigued  for  so  arduous 
an  undertaking. 

The  company  now  broke  up  ;  and  the  next  morning  a 
little  band  started  in  the  direction  they  supposed  Cutts 
and  Elsie  must  come  —  which  was  through  the  pass,  or 
notch,  of  the  Crystal  Hills. 

The  next  day  was  spent  by  the  squire  in  looking  over 
his  farm,  with  its  prostrate  fences  and  its  dilapidated  gates  ; 
and  he  could  not  but  mourn  to  see  how  every  thing,  as 
he  said,  had  gone  to  wreck  and  ruin.  Yet,  when  he 
would  consider  that  he  ought  to  be  thankful  that  his  own 
life  and  the  lives  of  those  near  and  dear  to  him  had  been 
preserved  through  all  the  sufferings  and  dangers  of  a  long 
and  terrible  captivity,  he  speedily  forgot  his  present  griev- 
ances in  the  brightening  prospects  of  the  future.  Waldron 
and  Gridley,  with  each  of  the  other  soldiers  and  captives, 
had  now  gone  to  look  after  their  own  neglected  affairs. 
While  the  squire  was  patching  up  his  gates,  and  Marine 
Lee  was  lending  him  a  helping  hand,  along  came  the 
little  patriot,  Major  Comical  Plump. 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  459 

"Well,"  cried  the  squire,  "how  is  the  owl  king  to- 
day?" 

"  He  is  no  king  now,"  replied  Plump ;  "  he  abdicated 
the  throne  last  night,  and  has  taken  up  his  abode  in  a 
humble  cottage  and  gone  to  roost." 

"  And  you  do  not  mean,"  said  the  squire,  "  that  he  shall 
ever  eat  any  more  flesh,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Not  unless  he  is  compelled  to  do  so  in  defence  of  the 
cause  of  the  people  in  whose  favor  he  has  abdicated," 
replied  Plump. 

"  Cause  of  a  fiddlestick ! "  sneered  the  squire.  "  Is  not 
the  cause  of  the  people  and  the  cause  of  the  good  king 
one  and  the  same  ?  " 

"  If  they  are,"  replied  Plump,  "  he  will  roost  this  many 
a  day." 

"Doubtless,"  resumed  the  squire,  "we  have  the  best 
government  and  the  best  sovereign  in  the  world  ;  and  my 
prayer  is,  '  God  save  the  king.' " 

Plump,  finding  the  squire  was  getting  a  little  excited, 
walked  into  the  house  to  see  his  charming  Owega  ;  and, 
as  he  passed,  said,  in  a  low  tone, — 

"  If  He  don't  save  him,  nothing  will,  if  the  old  owl  gets 
within  whooping  distance  of  him." 

"  What  was  that  the  lad  muttered  ?  "  asked  the  squire. 

"  He  says,"  replied  Marine  Lee,  "  he  hopes  he  will ;  for 
we  all  need  assistance  from  him." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,"  added  the  squire ;  "  the  little 
major  is  a  good  loyal  subject,  and  a  shrewd  one  too  ;  for 
we  should  all  have  perished  in  captivity  if  he  had  not 
come  to  our  assistance." 

"  Yes,"  said  Lee ;  "  he  is  as  true  as  the  needle  to  the 
pole." 

"  He  is  a  comical  genius,"  said  the  squire. 

"  He  is  so,"  replied  Lee,  "  and  a  plump  one  too." 

In  the  course  of  the  week  Captain  Waldron  called  and 


460  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

informed  them  that  he  had  purchased  a  new  lot  of  land  in 
the  vicinity  of  Merry  Meeting  Bay,  where  he  intended  to 
erect  a  house  and  have  it  ready  for  occupancy  by  the 
next  spring.  Gridley,  too,  called  and  announced  that  he 
had  commenced  a  new  house  near  the  log  hut  formerly 
occupied  by  himself  and  Walcott. 

Thereupon  Rozella  and  Georgietta  commenced  putting, 
not  their  houses,  but  their  housekeeping  articles,  in  order  ; 
and  the  winter  passed  merrily  save  when  their  hearts 
were  tortured  by  the  anxiety  they  all  felt  for  the  fate  of 
Cutts  and  Elsie,  who,  as  yet,  had  not  been  heard  from. 
The  winter  was  cold  and  unusually  severe,  and  they  were 
fearful  that  the  faithful  couple  had  either  perished  by  ex- 
posure, by  the  tomahawk  of  the  cruel  savage,  or  by  star- 
vation among  the  awful  solitudes  of  the  Crystal  Hills. 
The  settlers  frequently  called  on  the  Tuftons  and  mingled 
their  sighs  and  tears  with  theirs  ;  but  no  tidings  came  to 
relieve  their  aching  hearts.  The  company  which  had  gone 
in  search  of  them  returned  after  going  as  far  as  the  great 
mountain  pass,  or  notch,  but  had  discovered  no  track  or 
trace  of  them. 

It  was  early  spring,  and  the  bluebird  and  robin  had 
sent  forth  their  mellow,  trumpet  notes,  as  if  to  call  the 
vegetable  kingdom  to  its  resurrection ;  and  the  gurgling 
streams,  as  they  rushed  foaming  adown  the  hills  of  the 
sugar  orchards,  seemed  to  cry,  as  with  a  loud  voice, 
"  Winter  shall  be  no  more." 

The  lowing  herds  grew  impatient  as,  through  the  win- 
dow of  their  long-fastened  enclosure,  they  saw  the  distant 
hillside  throwing  off  its  snowy  vest  and  laying  bare  its 
broad  and  generous  bosom  to  the  genial  sun,  and  inviting 
them  to  their  annual  feast.  The  sheep  had  left  their  win- 
ter folds  and  wound  their  circuitous  way  to  the  bare 
patches  and  knolls  of  the  adjacent  fields,  whence  they 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  461 

bleated  their  lengthened  notes  of  welcome  to  the  joyous 
spring  ;  while  the  lambs  piped  cheerily  their  shrill,  re- 
sponsive treble  as  they  frisked  and  gambolled  from  rock 
to  rock. 

But  neither  the  note  of  the  spring  birds  nor  the  rejoi- 
cing gush  of  the  glad  waters  were  half  so  joyous  as  the 
sweet  unisons  of  love  that  ascended  from  the  hearts  of 
Britton  Waldron  and  Rozella  Langdell  ;  for  it  was  their 
wedding  day.  They  had  sent  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moody  to 
officiate  on  the  occasion,  as  no  one  else,  in  their  opinion, 
could  perform  the  interesting  ceremony  so  properly  and 
give  such  general  satisfaction.  The  neighbors  were  all  as- 
sembled in  their  Sunday  suits,  and  paired  off  for  the  time 
as  best  suited  them.  Gridley  and  Georgietta  and  Plump 
and  Owega  were  particularly  happy,  as  were,  indeed,  all 
who  were  assembled,  the  number  of  whom  was  not  small ; 
for,  knowing  as  our  readers  do  the  character  and  disposi- 
tion of  Rozella,  it  is  needless  to  say  that  the  old,  the  lame, 
and  the  blind  were  all  there.  The  company  were  hardly 
seated  when  the  good  parson  entered  with  a  cheerful 
smile  and  a  low  bow.  Since  his  last  settlement  the  par- 
son had  been  so  engaged  in  his  parochial  duties  that,  al- 
though he  had  frequently  written  Waldron  and  the  Lang- 
dells,  he  had  not  before  found  time  to  pay  them  a  visit. 
They  expected,  therefore,  that  he  would  keep  on  a  formal 
and  ministerial  dignity  until  after  the  marriage  ceremony, 
but  were  mistaken  ;  for  no  sooner  did  he  enter  than  he 
rushed  up  to  Mrs.  Langdell  and  the  squire,  congratulated 
them  on  their  safe  return,  and  had  just  completed  his  salu- 
tations, accompanied  by  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand  all 
around  the  room,  when  the  bride  and  bridegroom  came 
down.  Having  completed  the  important  and  interesting 
ceremony,  he  then  stepped  forward,  and,  taking  the  hands 
of  the  happy  pair,  gave  them  his  heartiest  congratulations 
39* 


462  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

on  their  present  happy  relations  and  his  warmest  wishes 
for  their  future  welfare  and  happiness. 

The  time  was  now  spent  in  happy  and  cheerful  conver- 
sation until  dinner  was  announced ;  after  which  the  parson 
took  his  leave,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waldron,  accompanied 
by  Gridley  and  Georgietta,  took  their  departure  for  their 
new  home  at  Merry  Meeting  Bay, 


CHAPTER    XLI. 


Fate  or  Charles  Cutts  and  Elsie   Tufton.  —  Little  Benedict  and 
Split  Rock.  —  Kozella's  new  Trouble. 


A  space  of  four  years  has  elapsed  since  the  occurrences 
narrated  in  the  last  chapter,  and  the  dear  old  land  of  La- 
conia  has  gone  on  more  prosperous  than  ever.  The  In- 
dians had  never  ventured  there  after  the  capture  of  the 
Langdells  and  Tuftons  and  the  consequent  embargo  put 
upon  their  excursions  by  the  old  owl  king.  Grizzly  Grid- 
ley  and  the  heroic  Georgietta  are  now  man  and  wife,  as  are 
also  Comical  Plump  and  the  brighteyed  Owega.  In  this 
interval  Plump  has  succeeded  in  raising  quite  a  party  who 
are  in  favor  of  separating  from  the  mother  country  ;  and 
it  may  be  that  at  some  future  day  his  daring  and  heroic 
deeds  of  valor  will  be  recorded.  The  fate  of  the  brave 
Charles  Cutts  and  the  lovely  Elsie  has  also  been  ascer- 
tained, the  details  of  which  we  will  now  rehearse. 

After  they  had  parted  from  the  Mountain  Rangers  to 
seek  their  home  by  the  route  along  the  head  waters  of  the 
Upper  Ammonoosuc,  they  suffered,  together  with  their 
companions,  the  most  bitter  hardships  and  privations, 
and  came  near  perishing  with  hunger.  They  subsisted 
mainly  upon  beech  nuts  and  hazel  nuts,  together  with  such 
esculent  roots  as  they  could  dig  on  their  route,  and  finally 
separated,  and  Cutts  and  Elsie  went  on  alone. 

During  the  previous  summer  a  man,  by  the  name  of 

(463) 


464  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

Whipple,  in  passing  from  Canada  to  the  English  settle- 
ments, on  arriving  at  the  beautiful  flat,  or  glen,  some  twen- 
ty-five miles  north-west  of  the  great  pass,  or  notch,  of  the 
Crystal  Hills,  was  so  highly  pleased  with  its  wild  and  ro- 
mantic location  that  he  halted,  and,  with  the  assistance  of 
two  or  three  of  his  companions,  erected  a  log  house  and 
commenced  clearing  the  land. . 

Cutts  and  Elsie  were  so  fortunate  as  to  come  in  sight 
of  his  house,  and,  being  faint,  weary,  and  nearly  famish- 
ing, approached  and  begged  for  food  and  shelter.  They 
were  not  only  received  and  their  wants  abundantly  pro- 
vided for,  but  a  proposition  was  made  them  by  Whipple 
to  remain  with  him  as  hired  help  through  the  winter  ;  to 
which,  it  being  too  late  in  the  season  to  attempt  crossing 
the  mountains,  they  acceded. 

While  at  supper  on  the  day  of  their  arrival,  Whipple 
asked  Elsie  to  give  him  her  name. 

"  Elsie  Tufton,"  replied  she. 

"Elsie  —  Elsie,"  repeated  Whipple;  "it  is  a  pretty 
name  enough  ;  but,  as  I  once  knew  a  young  woman  to 
whom  you  bear  a  close  resemblance  and  whose  name  was 
Nancy,  I  will,  if  you  have  no  objection,  while  you  remain 
here,  call  you  by  that  name." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  she  ;  "I  am  not  very  particular 
about  it." 

"  I  have  been  trying  for  a  long  time,"  responded  the 
gallant  Cutts,  "  to  change  it  myself.  But  never  mind  ;  our 
prospects  are  better  now  than  when  we  were  starving  in 
the  woods." 

"  It  will  all  come  out  straight  in  good  time,  I  hope," 
said  Whipple  ;  "  although  we  have  no  one  here  in  these 
woods  duly  authorized  to  change  it." 

The  next  day,  Nancy,  as  we  will  for  the  future  call  her, 
went  about  her  household  duties,  and  soon  put  the  neg- 
lected log  house  in  neat  and  comfortable  trim.     Her  time 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  465 

during  the  day  was  usually  spent  in  doing  the  necessary 
household  work,  and  the  evenings  were  enlivened  by  the 
companionship  of  Cutts  and  Whipple,  who  told  stories 
and  sang  songs  by  the  blazing  hearth  fire  of  their  rus- 
tic cabin. 

Late  in  the  fall,  the  men  who  had  previously  been  with 
Whipple  returned  with  a  full  supply  of  provisions  and 
other  necessary  articles  for  farming  ;  and  after  winter  set 
in  they  always  had  an  abundance  of  fresh  venison,  which, 
to  the  credit  of  Nancy  be  it  said,  was  most  admirably 
cooked.  The  howl  of  the  wolf  and  the  low  growl  of  the 
bear  around  their  strong  and  secure  dwelling  were  but  as 
music  to  their  ears  and  a  gentle  lullaby  to  soothe  them  to 
rest.  And  so  happily  had  they  spent  the  winter  that, 
when  spring  came,  Nancy  was  in  no  haste  to  leave  her 
romantic  quarters  in  the  mountains  ;  for  all,  though  wild, 
had  now  become  endeared  and  attractive  to  her.  And  this 
was  not  surprising  ;  for,  of  all  the  delightful  views  un- 
folded to  the  admiring  gaze  of  the  mountaineer,  she  de- 
clared the  Ammonoosuc,  with  its  falls  and  rapids,  was 
by  far  the  most  enchanting  and  picturesque.  It  starts 
from  the  fairy-like  little  ponds  so  calmly  sleeping  under  the 
protecting  wings  of  the  Crystal  Hills ;  but  when  their 
streams  come  out  into  the  world  there  is  no  more  sleep  to 
their  eyes  nor  slumber  to  their  eyelids,  and  they  dash  fu- 
riously along  with  unrestrained  and  giant  strides.  Having 
formed  an  harmonious  union  of  liquid  love,  it  then  makes 
several  perpendicular  leaps  of  thirty  or  forty  feet  from 
cliff  to  cliff,  and  still  sweeps  on  through  its  rocky  channel 
until  its  whole  bed  is  filled  with  boiling  torrents  of  foam 
and  spray.  Farther  down  the  mountain  the  sides  of  the 
stream  become  stained,  colored  and  carpeted  by  varie- 
gated mosses,  and  their  shelving  brows  are  covered  by 
verdant  shrubs  and  wildwood  flowers,  which  hang  over 
their  grotesque  lids  in  long  fringes  and  twining  festoons 


466  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

of  blossoming  beauty.  Farther  back  from  the  shores 
stand  the  dark,  heavy  evergreens  —  the  fir,  the  spruce, 
and  the  white  pine  —  like  ever-watchful  sentinels,  guard- 
ing the  unculled  herbarium  which  Nature  has  thrown  open 
at  their  feet. 

They  therefore  remained  here,  happy  and  lighthearted, 
until  late  in  the  summer,  when  Mr.  Cutts  left  for  his  home, 
intending  to  return  for  Nancy  in  the  fall,  and,  as  soon  as 
they  reached  the  settlement,  to  be  married.  After  his 
departure,  being  naturally  of  a  buoyant  spirit,  she  still 
continued  cheerful  and  happy,  thinking  only  of  the  time 
when  her  lover  should  come  for  her  and  convey  her  to 
their  common  home.  The  months  rolled  on,  and  the  time 
appointed  for  his  return  came ;  but  he  came  not  with  it. 
She  still  hoped  on  long  after  the  time  had  expired  ;  but  at 
last  the  days  grew  long  and  wearisome  to  her,  and  the 
nights  tedious  and  sleepless.  Sometimes  she  feared  that 
the  savage  beasts,  then  so  numerous,  had  devoured  him ; 
and  anon  the  dreadful  suspicion  haunted  and  harrowed  up 
her  tender  bosom  that  some  designing  damsel  in  the  set- 
tlements might,  with  her  artful  wiles,  have  drawn  away 
that  heart  she  claimed  as  her  own.  At  length,  unable 
longer  to  endure  the  suspense  and  uncertainty,  and  as  win- 
ter was  just  setting  in,  making  her  immediate  departure 
necessary,  in  order  to  get  through  the  pass  ere  the  drift- 
ing snow  should  have  rendered  it  impassable,  she  deter- 
mined to  make  an  attempt  to  reach  the  settlements.  For 
days  previous  she  had  searched  the  woods,  the  caves,  and 
even  the  dens  of  the  wild  beasts ;  but  no  trace  of  him  could 
she  find.  On  the  morning  of  her  departure  the  snow  com- 
menced falling ;  and  poor  Nancy  saw  that  it  was,  indeed, 
her  last  chance.  Hastily  collecting  a  few  articles  of  cloth- 
ing and  tying  them  in  a  handkerchief,  while  the  tears  fell 
as  fast  as  the  snow,  she  started  on  her  perilous  journey. 
The  whole  country  for  miles  around  was  one  unbroken 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  467 

wilderness,  and  there  was  no  road  ;  and  after  she  bent  her 
course  so  as  to  strike  the  Notch,  not  even  a  footpath  was 
visible  ;  and,  as  there  were  no  bridges,  she  was  obliged  to 
cross  the  streams  on  the  trunks  of  fallen  trees,  which  were 
slippery  with  sleet  and  snow.  The  difficulties  and  dan- 
gers of  the  undertaking  were  increased  tenfold  by  the 
storm  of  snow,  which  continued  until  it  was  nearly  a  foot 
deep,  while  the  cold  grew  still  more  biting  and  severe. 

A  few  days  after  her  departure  she  was  found  by  a 
hunter  sitting  on  the  ground,  leaning  against  a  hemlock 
tree,  by  the  side  of  a  stream  which  flows  through  a  deep 
chasm,  lifeless  and  frozen.  A  bridge  has  since  been  erected 
over  the  chasm  by  the  side  of  which  she  fell,  which,  in 
honor  and  in  remembrance  of  this  truehearted  woman,  is 
called  Nancy's  Bridge.  It  is  truly  a  standing  memorial 
of  love,  fidelity,  and  death.  The  stone  upon  which  the 
bridge  is  laid  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  trap  dike.  To 
all  appearance,  the  trap  rock  was  thrown  up  between  the 
granite  and  there  cooled,  and  in  the  process  of  time  fell 
to  pieces  and  was  carried  away  by  the  water,  leaving  a 
vacant  space  between  the  granite  walls  on  either  side. 
The  rapid  stream  which  flows  between  these  walls  is  also 
called  Nancy's  River,  and  the  height  of  the  bridge  above 
the  water  is  thirty  feet.  Here,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  where  the  house  of  Mr.  Crawford  now  stands,  per- 
ished the  lovely  Elsie,  alias  Nancy,  who  braved  the  terrors 
of  the  wilderness,  the  storm,  and  the  cold  for  nearly  twen- 
ty-five miles  ere  she  fell  and  rested  from  her  labors ;  and 
here,  by  the  side  of  the  bounding  river,  was  she  laid  in 
her  rude  and  humble  grave.  Let  whoever  passes  the  wild 
and  lovely  spot  pause  and  pay  due  reverence  to  her  fidelity 
and  drop  a  tear  in  remembrance  of  her  sad  fate.  She  had 
the  loving  heart  and  unswerving  constancy  of  a  true  wo- 
man ;  and  long  may  her  story  be  told  with  sympathy  and 
pity.    Many  and  bitter  were  Rozella's  tears  when  she 


468  •         LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

heard  of  the  sad  fate  of  her  dear  and  valued  friend  ;  and, 
after  the  first  violence  of  her  grief  had  subsided,  she 
penned  the  following  lines  as  a  tribute  to  her  memory 
and  her  worth  :  — 


"  The  wintry  clouds  are  wild  abore ; 

My  scalding  tears,  —  they  burn. 
"Where  is  the  dwelling  of  my  love  ? 

O,  when  will  he  return  ? 
I've  searched  each  cave  for  miles  around, 

And  e'en  the  wild  beast's  den ; 
But  trace  nor  track  of  him  I've  found," 

Cried  Nancy  of  the  Glen. 

"  Perhaps  the  wolves  that  heart  have  torn 

That  loved  me  aye  so  true, 
Or  else  some  artful  maid  hath  borne 

Away  that  love,  my  due. 
The  pigeon  seeks  her  absent  mate, 

So  doth  the  mountain  hen : 
I'll  fly,  I'll  know  my  Charlie's  fate," 

Quoth  Nancy  of  the  Glen. 

Her  scanty  wardrobe,  all  she  had, 

Was  gathered,  wild  and  fast ; 
Through  storm  and  beating  sleet  she  fled, 

Nor  feared  the  driving  blast. 
Her  track  the  blood  left  pure  and  warm 

On  rock  and  thorny  stem, 
And  scenting  wolves  howled  with  the  storm 

For  Nancy  of  the  Glen. 

To  gain  the  pass  she  urged  her  flight 

Before  the  setting  day ; 
But  gathering  storm  and  thickening  night 

O'ettook  her  on  her  way. 
Against  the  tree,  beside  the  gulf, 

Far  from  the  haunts  of  men, 
In  bitter  anguish  threw  herself— 

Poor  Nancy  of  the  Glen  ! 

'Tis  morn.    Hark  !  not  a  breath  is  heard ; 

Nor  wolf,  nor  hawk,  I  see ; 
The  storm  howls  not ;  no  spray  is  stirred ; 

Yet  Nancy's  by  the  tree. 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  469 

But  0,  her  beauteous  form  and  eye 

Were  cold ;  and  angels  then, 
On  cherub  wings,  came  from  the  sky 

For  Nancy  of  the  Glen. 

The  heroic  Charles  Cutts  was  never  heard  from ;  but 
years  afterwards  a  skeleton  was  found  in  the  wilderness 
south  of  the  Crystal  Hills,  together  with  the  corroded  and 
rusteaten  barrel  of  a  gun,  which  was  pronounced  by  the 
older  settlers  to  be  similar  in  form  and  workmanship  to 
those  used  by  the  soldiers  in  their  expedition  against  the 
St.  Francis  Indians. 

There  is  a  vast  rocking  stone  in  Laconia,  supposed  to 
weigh  from  sixty  to  eighty  tons,  and  so  exactly  poised  or 
balanced  that  a  lady's  finger  may  move  it  several  inches, 
though  a  hundred  men  could  move  it  no  farther.  The 
cause  of  the  fracture  of  so  many  large  rocks  throughout 
our  land  is,  perhaps,  a  question  more  easily  asked  than 
answered.  If  they  were  once  hot  and  were  fractured  in 
cooling,  why  did  nearly  all  of  them  split  in  a  vertical 
direction  and  nearly  through  the  centre  ?  In  the  deepest 
and  wildest  forests,  where  human  foot  has  seldom  trod,  do 
we  find  the  same  mysterious  granite  memorials  to  excite 
our  wonder  and  surprise.  Perhaps  nearly  every  man  and 
woman  has  heard  it  suggested  in  their  younger  days  that 
these  rocks  were  thus  rent  when  the  Lord  and  Savior  of 
mankind  was  crucified  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  as  if  to 
serve  as  a  lasting  reproach  to  the  stubborn  and  hard 
hearts  of  the  unbelieving  Jews,  which  refused  to  melt  or 
be  moved  at  his  dying  agonies.  And,  whether  from  early 
education  or  from  some  other  influence,  we  never  look 
upon  one  of  these  fractured  rocks  but  we  think  of  the 
scene  on  Calvary,  and  our  hearts  are  filled  with  a  warm 
and  tender  glow  of  devotion  and  adoration.  How  much 
do  we  need  these  widely-spread  and  enduring  monuments 
40 


470  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

of  his  sufferings  and  of  his  love,  towards  us  to  remind 
us  of  our  obligations  to  him  and  our  duties  to  each  other  ! 

But  if  ever  there  was  "  a  sermon  in  a  stone,"  there  is 
one  which  comes  to  our  ears  in  mournful  tones  and  with 
wailing  cadence  from  the  old  granite  bowlder  known  as 
Split  Rock,  which  stands  in  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Alton,  in  Laconia,  within  a  few  rods  of  where  once  stood 
the  house  of  Captain  Britton  Waldron.  As  this  rock  is 
intimately  connected  with  the  events  to  be  recorded  in  our 
narrative,  we  will  now  resume  the  thread  of  our  discourse. 

Young  Benedict,  the  son  and  first  born  of  Waldron  and 
Rozella,  had  now  reached  the  age  of  three  years,  and  was 
the  pride  of  his  doting  parents,  and  the  very  idol  of  the 
noble  old  grandfather,  Squire  Langdell.  In  little  Bene- 
dict all  their  hopes  and  affections  centred  ;  and  he  was  the 
anchor  on  which  all  their  earthly  hopes  and  prospects 
depended.  He  was  unusually  active  and  sprightly,  and 
could  trot  his  wooden  horse  faster  and  crack  his  little 
whip  louder  than  any  other  boy  of  his  age  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. His  bright  eye  and  his  sweet  mouth  ever  wore  a 
witching  smile,  which  gave  a  peculiar  charm  to  all  his 
boyish  words  and  phrases  ;  yet  he  seemed  as  thoughtful  as 
he  was  playful,  and  frequently  asked  questions  concerning 
the  origin  of  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  as  well  as  our 
own  little  earth,  which  would  have  puzzled  wiser  heads 
than  those  of  his  father  and  mother  to  have  answered  satis- 
factorily. He  loved  to  chase  the  butterfly,  and  to  gaze  at 
the  wild  bee  as  it  drew  the  sweet  juices  from  the  white 
clover,  through  his  tiny  tube,  or  to  see  him  fold  his  wings 
close  to  his  side  and  cling  with  unyielding  grasp  to  the 
slender  petals  when  the  high  wind  rocked  and  bent  the 
stalk.  And  often  would  his  joyous  laugh  ring  up  from 
the  garden  with  sweeter  melody  rthan  the  suppressed 
trumpetings  of  the  bee  he  so  delighted  to  enclose  in  the 
velvet  flower  bells  Of  the  morning  glory. 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  471 

In  one  of  these  playful  gambols  one  day  his  father 
chanced,  in  coming  from  the  field,  to  pass  through  the  gar- 
den, and,  meeting  him,  caught  him  up  in  his  arms,  and,  with 
an  excess  of  emotion  quite  unusual  to  his  wonted  sternness, 
pressed  him  to  his  bosom  and  kissed  him  again  and  again. 
Rozella,  who  was  looking  out  of  the  window,  at  once 
detected  something  unnatural  in  his  air  and  manner  as  he 
thus  caressed  his  child,  and  as  he  entered  the  house  she 
saw  that  he  looked  pale. 

"  What  goes  wrong  to-day,  dear  Britton  ?  "  asked  she, 
with  an  anxious  look. 

"  I  can  hardly  tell ; "  replied  Waldron,  "  but  I  am 
troubled." 

"  Is  it  for  dear  Benedict  ?  "  inquired  Rozella. 

"  No,"  returned  the  captain  ;  "  but  for  you,  my  dear 
Rozella." 

"  Tell  me  all  at  once,"  said  she,  as  she  fell  into  a  chair 
by  his  side. 

"  Do  not  be  frightened,"  replied  Waldron,  soothingly, 
"  but  keep  calm  ;  as  my  alarm  may  be  needless,  if  not 
foolish.  But  one  of  the  neighbors  has  just  been  telling  me 
of  a  strange  man  who  has  been  seen  hanging  about  the 
woods  yonder  and  watching  our  house  very  narrowly." 

"  Mercy ! "  cried  Rozella.    "  Who  can  it  be  ?  " 

"  I  have  my  suspicions,"  replied  Waldron. 

"  How  was  he  dressed  ?  "  asked  Rozella. 

"  He  wore  an  old  slouched  hat,"  replied  Waldron,  "  a 
very  ragged  old  Quaker  coat,  and  had  a  large  patch  over 
one  eye." 

"  Mercy !  mercy  !  "  cried  Rozella,  shuddering.  "  What 
can  we  do  ?  But  is  it  not  possible  that  it  may  be  some 
other  than  our  old  enemy  ?  " 

"  The  trees  are  badly  marked  in  the  woods  ; "  returned 
Waldron,  "  and  I  have  been  to  see  them." 

"  And  what  are  these  marks  ?  "  asked  Rozella. 


472  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

"  The  letters  J.  T.  are  on  many  trees,"  rejoined  Wal- 
dron,  "  and  on  some  the  additional  letters  R.  L.,  with  an 
and  between  them  and  the  former." 

"  Sorrow !  sorrow  1 "  exclaimed  Rozella.  "  It  is  enough  ; " 
and  was  falling  senseless  to  the  floor,  when  Waldron 
caught  her  in  his  arms  and  bore  her  to  the  bed. 

It  was  not  until  evening  that  Rozella  recovered  eaffi- 
eiently  to  be  able  to  leave  her  bed  ;  and  the  captain  spent 
the  remainder  of  the  day  in  the  house,  and  busied  himself, 
after  his  wife  dispensed  with  his  assistance  in  her  own  be- 
half, in  making  bars  for  the  doors  and  buttons  for  the 
windows.  They  passed  a  sleepless  night  and  kept  a  close 
watch  from  the  windows,  but  saw  no  one,  although  it  was 
quite  evident  from  the  marks  on  the  trees  that  their  old 
foe  must  have  been  around  the  premises  for  some  time,  and 
had  doubtless  seen  them  at  evening  long  before  it  had 
been  ascertained  that  he  was  in  the  vicinity. 

"  I  almost  wish,"  said  Rozella,  the  next  morning,  "  but 
then  it  would  be  wrong  ;  but  I  was  thinking  that,  if  John 
Stark  had  finished  Taurus  up  at  St.  Francis,  we  should  not 
now  be  annoyed  with  so  foul  a  specimen  of  total  depravity." 

"I  thought  of  the  same  thing  myself,"  responded  the 
captain  ;  "  and  then  it  popped  into  my  head  that  the  old 
owl  king  was  getting  a  little  hungry." 

"  It  will  never  do  even  to  think  of  such  a  thing,"  replied 
Rozella. 

"  No,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "  I  suppose  it  will  not." 

"  But,"  remarked  Rozella,  "  if  we  see  any  thing  more  of 
him,  would  it  not  be  well  to  rally  the  settlers  and  search 
the  woods,  and,  if  they  found  him,  drive  him  off  in  such 
a  way  that  he  would  never  dare  to  appear  again  within  the 
borders  of  Laconia  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  time  of  peace  now,"  replied  Waldron,  "  and  we 
might  be  thought  cowardly  should  we  even  mention  our 
suspicions  or  our  fears.     I  think  we  had  better  say  nothing 


LEGENDS   OP   LACONIA.  473 

about  the  matter,  and,  if  any  one  mentions  it,  pretend  that 
we  have  no  fears  about  it." 

Several  weeks  now  passed  without  any  thing  more  being 
seen  or  heard  of  their  dreaded  enemy,  and  Captain  Wal- 
dron  and  his  wife  had  almost  forgotten  their  fears. 

Little  Benedict  was  allowed  to  range  over  the  fields  as 
usual,  for  they  had  not  the  least  suspicion  that  any  harm 
was  meditated  against  him ;  but  it  happened  that  one  day, 
while  engaged  in  his  boyish  sports  about  the  fields,  he 
mounted  his  wooden  horse  and  galloped  out  to  the  Travel- 
lers' Rest,  as  the  Split  Rock  was  called,  and  the  demon's 
eyes  were  upon  him. 

"  Ha  !  ha !  *  cried  Taurus  to  himself,  as  he  lay  concealed 
in  the  wood.  "  The  lad  is  a  rare  diamond,  as  was  his  mother 
before  him.  She  should  have  been  mine,  and  mine  only. 
Revenge  !  Ah,  I  said  it  was  sweet  under  the  very  click  of 
Wenane's  grating  arrow  ;  yet  that  was  music  to  my  ear  com- 
pared with  the  grating  shaft  of  scorn  and  contempt  shot 
from  thy  mother's  eyes  and  which  pierced  my  very  soul. 
Britton  Waldron  was  it  whom  she  loved  ?  Ha !  I  see  his 
very  image  in  thy  face  :  but  the  eyes,  —  0,  they  are  the 
mother's,  and  are  the  same  bright  orbs  that  shot  into  this 
heart  all  the  anguish  which  now  rankles  there.  I  it  was 
who  first  bespoke  her,  and  was  manly  enough  to  declare 
my  passion  to  thy  father  ;  and  I  then  told  him  she  was 
a  crown  which  he  would  see  me  win  and  wear  bravely. 
And  did  he  not  deceive  me  when  he  bade  me  not  be  in 
haste,  for  the  young  lady  had  been  accustomed  to  refined 
and  fashionable  society,  and  my  roughness  would  frighten 
her  ?  And  did  he  not  say,  too,  that,  if  I  wished  to  win  the 
fair  Forest  Queen,  I  must  proceed  cautiously  and  slowly, 
when  at  the  same  time  he  himself  was  planning  to  get  the 
start  of  me  and  secure  the  prize  I  so  much  longed  to  ob- 
tain ?  What  foul  deceit  was  even  then  under  his  tongue ! 
and  fully  and  dreadfully  will  Jack  Taurus  be  revenged  on 
40* 


474  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

his  deceptive  soul.  But  can  I,  and  he  so  young  and  so 
innocent  ?  Thine  eyes,  boy,  are  like  the  timid  fawn's,  and 
thy  little  mouth  as  sweet  as  his  when  he  crops  the  tender 
herbage  upon  the  banks  of  some  silvery  stream.  Thy 
voice,  too,  is  more  musical  than  the  fabled  sirens  of  old, 
and  thy  joyous  laugh  rings  out  upon  the  air  like  the  gush- 
ing morning  song  of  the  swallow  in  spring  or  the  wild 
mocking  bird  that  sings  upon  the  tree  which  o'erhangs  the 
lake,  and  thine  eyes  mirror  the  soul  within  as  the  waters 
do  the  bird.  Ah,  I  have  it  now !  Thy  spirit  is  thy  mother's, 
and  shall  live  on  and  live  ever ;  but  thy  body  is  that  of 
thy  treacherous  father,  and  shall  die.  Have  I  said  it  ? 
Die,  did  I  say?  Yes  ;  Taurus's  heart  has  pronounced  thy 
doom,  and  his  hands  are  not  afraid  to  execute  what  his  lips 
have  uttered.  Die !  it  sounds  rather  startling.  I  seem  to 
hear  it  ring  from  the  rock  ;  yet,  as  I  said,  it  is  only  thy 
father's  accursed  body,  so  visible  in  thee,  that  shall  die.  So 
now  to  the  work.  Aha!  you  are  now  in  my  grasp!  Cry, 
do  you?  Well,  this  broad  hand  upon  the  little  mouth 
stops  its  plaintive  though  still  sweet  music,  and  would  do 
so  were  it  a  thousand  times  sweeter.  Please  let  me  go,  do 
you  say  ?  No,  boy,  never  !  I  am  Jack  Taurus,  whom  thy 
father  deceived  and  thy  mother  scorned.  Offer  to  give  me 
all  your  playthings  if  I'll  not  harm  you,  do  you  ?  Ha !  ha ! 
lad,  you  are  yourself  the  plaything  in  the  paws  of  the 
bear.  Your  mother  shall  mend  my  coat  if  I  will  let  you 
go  home,  did  you  say  ?  Ah,  can  she  mend  my  heart,  boy  ? 
That  is  the  question.  No,  no  ;  she  wanted,  if  it  had  not 
been  so  rotten,  to  string  it  on  a  tinker's  hot  soldering 
iron,  and  laughed  as  she  said  my  neck  deserved  the  string 
most.  Die,  die,  I  say,  for  your  mother's  scorn  and  your 
father's  deceit.  Gasp  and  quackle  do  you,  boy  ?  Hush ! 
it  is  almost  over  ;  don't  writhe  so  ;  your  little  throat  is  in 
the  vice  of  death.  Ah,  he  quivers,  and  his  eyes  swell  out, 
but  they  grow  dim.    Dead,  dead,  for  thy  mother's  scorn 


LEGENDS  OP   LACONIA.  475 

and  thy  father's  treachery.  Now  to  the  deep  and  dark  crev- 
ice in  Split  Rock.  There !  he  falls  heavily ;  but  he  groans 
not  nor  stirs.  Now  for  the  dry  leaves  and  brush  to  cover  up 
the  body  ;  a  little  dirt  first,  and  then  the  leaves  and  brush. 
There,  that  is  sufficient ;  spring  will  never  thaw  out  the 
dead,  and  the  boy  sleeps  soundly  and  securely.  Now, 
Jack,  to  parts  unknown,  and  nevermore  shall  thy  foot 
press  the  soil  of  the  once  pleasant  but  now  accursed  land 
of  Laconia.  Ha !  ha !  I  did  it  well ;  and  'tis  all  over.  But 
I  must  hasten  on  still  faster,  for  they  may  smell  the  blood. 
I  think  I  do  myself;  yes,  'tis  on  my  hand,  and  came  from 
that  sweet  mouth.  Well,  here  is  water,  and  it  will  easily 
come  off.  Rub  harder,  Jack ;  but  still  it  don't  go  off. 
Pshaw !  I  will  wear  it  as  a  trophy  of  my  bravery.  What ! 
shuddering  ?  Perhaps  I'm  not  so  brave  as  I  thought  my- 
self. But  what  ails  the  flower,  there?  that,  too,  looks 
bloody.  It  was  fresh  and  smiling  this  morning  when  I 
passed  it ;  but  it  is  now  withered  and  bloody.  I'll  smell 
it.  0,  horror !  it  smells  of  blood.  And  the  song  of  the 
bird,  too,  is  not  so  sweet  as  then.  I  am  sure  it  is  the 
robin,  but  his  plumage  is  soiled  and  bloody  and  his  voice 
is  cracked  and  husky.  Benedict,  did  he  say  ?  0,  he  knows 
the  name,  then !  I  must  run  faster,  and  try  to  escape  from 
the  robin  and  myself  too.  But  stop !  Are  those  the  stars 
that  begin  to  shine  in  the  evening  sky  ?  They  look  more 
like  clots  of  gore.  I  never  knew  before  that  stars  were 
ever  eclipsed.  The  moon,  too,  looks  queerly,  and  seems 
swimming  in  a  sea  of  blood.  If  such  are  the  effects  of 
crime,  I  would  sooner  die  a  thousand  deaths  than  live 
with  such  a  load  of  guilt  upon  my  soul.  But,  then,  I'm  not 
so  very  bad  after  all,  for  I  have  only  paid  them  back  the 
shameful  wrong  they  have  done  me.  True,  the  innocent 
boy  had  done  me  no  wrong  ;  but  I  only  took  the  life  of  the 
boy  to  expiate  the  father's  crime,  and  allowed  the  mother's 
spirit  to  live  on." 


476  LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA. 

The  day  at  the  house  of  Captain  Waldron  finally  wore 
away  ;  and,  as  Mrs.  Waldron  had  company  that  afternoon, 
she  hardly  missed  her  darling  boy,  or,  if  she  did,  supposed 
him  to  be  engaged  in  his  usual  rambles. 

"  Where  is  little  Benedict  ?  V  asked  the  captain,  as  he 
came  in  from  the  field  where  he  had  been  at  work.  "  The 
little  rogue  did  not  come  to  meet  me  as  usual,  to  give  me 
his  kiss  of  welcome ;  and  I  missed  the  pattering  of  his 
little  feet  coming  through  the  lane.     Where  can  he  be  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know,"  replied  Rozella  ;  "  I  supposed 
he  was  playing  about  the  premises,  and  think  he  cannot  be 
far  off." 

Both  now  went  to  the  door,  but  could  see  nothing  of  the 
child  ;  and  the  father  then  went  to  the  barn  and  called  his 
name  ;  but  no  answer  was  returned.  He  then  called  him 
in  a  louder  tone,  but  with  a  tremor  in  his  full,  manly  voice  ; 
and  still  nought  but  echo  replied.  He  saw  that  his  voice 
betrayed  his  anxiety,  and  was  afraid  to  call  a  second  time. 

"  What  can  it  mean,  Britton  ?  '■  asked  Rozella,  anxiously. 
"  He  never  strayed  off  so  far  before." 

She  then  called  him  herself;  and  still  there  was  no  an- 
swer. They  then  searched  the  garden  and  looked  behind 
the  fences,  not  knowing  but  he  might  have  laid  down  and 
fallen  to  sleep  after  his  play.  Finally  his  father  went  out 
in  the  vicinity  of  Split  Rock  ;  and,  to  his  horror,  there  lay 
Benedict's  little  cap  upon  the  ground,  with  the  stick  he 
used  for  his  horse  by  its  side,  but  no  further  sign  or  trace 
of  him.  Neither  himself  nor  Rozella  entertained  the  least 
suspicion  that  Taurus  was  in  any  way  connected  with  the 
sudden  and  mysterious  disappearance  of  their  darling 
child,  but  feared  that  some  monstrous  wild  beast  had 
caught  and  devoured  him,  or  that  he  had  been  captured 
and  carried  away  by  the  Indians. 

The  settlers  were  instantly  rallied,  and  runners  sent  in 
all  directions,  while  a  special  messenger  was  despatched  to 


LEGENDS  OF   LACONIA.  477 

Squire  Langdell,  who  shortly  rode  furiously  up,  almost 
frantic  with  fear  and  anguish,  with  his  flowing  gray  locks 
wet  with  the  night  dews,  but  his  heaving  and  agonized 
breast  still  more  wet  with  the  hot  tears  which  rolled  from 
his  furrowed  cheeks  upon  it.  Gridley  and  Plump,  too, 
were  speedily  on  the  ground  ;  and  even  blind  Sarah,  when 
she  heard  the  news,  was  frantic  to  be  allowed  to  go,  as 
she  was  sure,  she  said,  that  she  could  find  the  bird  by  the 
sweet  chirp  of  his  musical  note.  Old  Mrs.  Emond  now 
bent  lower  than  ever  as  she  leaned  upon  her  trembling 
staff,  called  for  the  blessing  of  Heaven  to  rest  upon  the 
tender  lamb,  and  prayed  that  he  might  soon  be  restored  to 
the  arms  of  his  parents.  The  woods,  and  fields,  and  streams 
in  the  vicinity  were  searched  that  night  a  hundred  times  ; 
and  the  next  day  the  search  was  resumed  and  kept  up  for 
many  successive  days,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Split  Rock 
alone  held  the  secret,  and,  like  the  sea,  was  not  yet  ready 
to  give  up  its  dead.  Rozella,  pale  and  desponding,  had  taken 
to  her  bed,  and  her  cheek  grew  hectic  and  her  eye  wild. 
There  was  no  Elsie  to  comfort  her  in  turn  in  her  bitter  an- 
guish, for  she  had  fallen  long  before. 

"  0,"  murmured  she,  "  were  I  sure  that  my  little  blossom 
had  faded  from  earth  and  was  at  rest,  I  would  try  to  be 
resigned  ;  but  who  knows  what  frightful  pangs  may  be 
wrenching  his  tender  heart?  When  I  drowse  I  seem  to 
hear  his  gentle  voice  lisping  his  mother's  name.  0,  how  I 
blame  myself  for  allowing  the  precious  lamb  to  leave  my 
bosom  !  Would  that  I  could  have  died  for  him,  that  this 
aching  heart  might  be  at  peace !  " 

As  thus  she  bewailed  her  sore  affliction  she  thought  of 
what  Mrs.  Emond  had  said  of  the  loss  of  Lily  Ransom  has- 
tening her  mother's  death ;  and  seriously  did  she  reflect  upon 
the  probability  of  her  own  exodus  from  her  earthly  taber- 
nacle. As  she  began  to  relax  her  hold  upon  the  world, 
she  naturally,  in  a  measure  at  least,  ceased  to  be  agitated 


478  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

by  earthly  things  ;  and,  as  her  feverish  excitement  and 
anguish  abated,  her  health  improved. 

The  grief  of  Captain  Waldron  had  been  as  poignant  as 
her  own  ;  but,  as  his  health  was  firm  and  his  constitution 
sound,  he  did  not,  like  her,  sink  under  the  mountain  load 
that  pressed  upon  his  manly  heart.  When  he  saw  her 
fading  cheek  and  drooping  form  he  took  the  alarm  and 
taxed  his  energies  to  the  utmost  to  comfort  and  console 
her  ;  and  glad  was  his  heart  when  he  saw  the  crisis  of  her 
affliction  had  been  passed  and  her  health  slowly  but  hope- 
fully returning. 

Squire  Langdell  had  felt  the  sorrow  that  blighted  their 
hopes  and  darkened  their  prospects  but  little  less  than  did 
Waldron  and  Rozella.  He  felt  as  though  the  staff  upon 
which  he  had  hoped  to  lean  for  solace  and  comfort  in  tot- 
tering down  the  declining  slope  of  years  had  been  taken 
away  when  he  seemed  to  stand  most  in  need  of  it. 

Years  rolled  on,  and  still  no  tidings  came  of  the  lost 
one  ;  and  all  save  those  to  whose  hearts  he  was  near  and 
dear  had  nearly  ceased  to  remember  that  such  an  occur- 
rence had  ever  happened  within  the  borders  of  Laconia. 


CHAPTER    XLII. 


Concession  and  Death  op  Taurus. — His  Letter. — Sickness  opRo- 
zella.  —  Her  Restoration.  —  State  op  Laconia.  —  Waldron  and 
rozella  visit  the  graves  op  their  dear  departed  ones,  and 
their  bemark8  there. 


"  Murder  will  out "  is  an  old  and  time-honored  prov- 
erb, the  truth  of  which  is  very  generally,  if  not  univer- 
sally, believed.  But  whoever  will  take  pains  to  watch  tho 
columns  of  a  city  newspaper  for  a  single  year,  or  for  a 
series  of  years,  and  enumerate  the  number  of  persons  who 
meet  their  death  by  violence  in  some  shape  or  other,  the 
authors  of  which  are  never  detected,  can  hardly  fail  to 
arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  not  more  than  one  murder 
in  ten  is  fully  brought  to  light,  and  will  not  be  until  it 
stands  revealed  in  the  burning  blaze  of  the  great  day  of 
judgment. 

But  it  so  happened  in  the  case  before  us  that,  years  after 
the  tragic  scene  enacted  at  Split  Rock,  a  man  in  a  distant 
state  was  lying  upon  his  death  bed,  and,  being  assured 
that  the  sands  of  his  earthly  existence  were  fast  running 
out,  began,  as  he  had  no  time  to  repair,  to  review  the  evil 
deeds  of  which  he  had  been  the  agent.  As  his  many 
crimes  not  only  rose  but  rushed  like  a  long  pent-up  and 
raging  flood  upon  his  mind,  his  soul  sickened  at  the  awful 
pages  his  memory  laid  open  in  the  book  of  his  life  ;  for 
they  seemed  written  in  characters  of  blood.    He  cowered 

(479) 


480  LEGENDS   OF  LACONIA. 

down  upon  his  bed,  and,  covering  his  eyes  with  the  blan 
ket,  exclaimed,  — 

"  Shut  him  out !  He  looks  so  innocent  I  can't  do  it. 
Sweet  mouth,  has  he  ?  0,1  wish  it  were  a  cruel  Indian's, 
for  then  I  could  bear  it.  0,  the  very  mildness  of  those 
eyes  is  what  harrows  up  my  soul.  What's  that  he  says  ? 
1  Save  me,  sir,  and  I  will  give  you  all  my  playthings. 
Please  let  me  go  home,  and  mother  shall  mend  your  coat/ 
Ah,  I  thought  it  was  my  rent  soul  which  she  could  not 
mend.  But  at  that  time  it  was  whole  and  dressed  in  a 
holiday  suit  compared  to  the  bloodstained  garb  in  which 
it  is  now  arrayed.  Horror!  horror!  Take  him  away! 
He  gasps  and  quackles !  Blood !  blood  !  My  heart  is  all 
on  fire,  and  I  cannot  die !  Look  down  into  that  Split 
Rock ;  do  you  see  those  snakes  ?  0,  how  they  hiss  and 
run  out  their  fiery,  forked  tongs !  and  how  strongly  they 
smell  of  blood  !  No  ;  they  are  demons !  See  how  they 
dash  up  the  sides  of  the  rock,  and,  lashing  their  sides  with 
their  quivering  tails,  fall  back  again !  Horror !  they  bite 
and  sting  me  !  " 

As  he  thus  cried  out  in  a  piercing  voice,  the  wretched 
man  bounded  from  the  bed,  but  was  caught  by  the  assist- 
ant and  again  placed  upon  the  bed. 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  "  I  am  calmer  now.  Is  there  any  one 
here  who  can  write  ?  " 

"  I  can  write,"  replied  the  man  who  was  watching  by 
his  bedside. 

"  Will  you  write  what  I  shall  dictate,"  asked  the  dying 
man,  "  and  forward  it  as  soon  as  I  am  dead  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  assistant,  and,  seating  himself, 
while  the  other  dictated  wrote  as  follows  :  — 

Mrs.  Britton  Waldron  :  I  am  the  murderer  of  your 
innocent  child  Benedict.  Words  cannot  describe  the 
mingled  rage  and  anguish  of  my  heart  when  I  knew  that 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  481 

you  were  married  to  one  who  had  deceived  me  and  ob- 
tained her  whom  I  loved  a  thousand  times  better  than  my 
own  life.  After  I  had  been  absent  for  years  my  passion  was 
still  unabated,  and  I  returned  to  Laconia  and  hung  about 
your  house  for  weeks,  merely  to  get  a  sight  at  you ;  but 
when  I  did  so  it  only  increased  my  frenzy,  and  I  was  de- 
termined that  blood,  and  blood  alone,  should  satisfy  my 
raging  passion.  Accordingly,  I  strangled  your  darling 
boy,  maddened  by  his  resemblance  to  his  perfidious  father, 
and  hid  his  lifeless  remains  in  the  deep  cleft  of  Split  Rock, 
where  they  probably  now  are.  Can  a  wretch  like  me  be 
forgiven?  Jack  Taurus. 

The  letter  was  sealed  and  directed  ;  which  being  done, 
Taurus  exclaimed,  — 

"  So  much  have  I  done  ;  but  it  amounts  to  but  little  save 
to  relieve  my  own  tortures.  Does  it  repair  the  injury  or 
heal  the  broken  heart  of  the  best  and  kindest  of  mothers? 
and  does  it  really  cleanse  the  blood  from  my  own  soul  ? 
Alas !  no.  I  feel  the  keen  pangs  yet ;  they  sting  to  the 
very  core  of  my  heart  sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword. 
Aha !  I  just  think  now  ;  I  wonder  I  did  not  think  of  it 
before.  It  is  just  as  old  Dolly  Plot  foretold  ;  for  she  said, 
when  telling  my  fortune,  that  I  should  die  far  away  from 
home,  among  strangers,  with  blood  upon  my  soul,  and  a 
dagger,  planted  by  my  own  hands,  in  my  heart ;  and  it  is 
even  so.  Well,  she  had  a  right  to  foretell  it ;  for,  while 
she  plotted  the  destruction  of  others  and  made  me  a  tool 
to  execute  her  bloody  purposes,  she  at  the  same  time 
plotted  my  own  overthrow,  and  I  was  too  blind  to  see  her 
infernal  design.  0,  how  many  souls,  and  bodies  too,  have 
been  made  to  bleed  by  the  hellish  plots  of  one  vile  woman ! 
She  comes — she  comes!  0,  keep  her  from  me!  Save 
me  —  save  me !  There !  see  her  high  cap  as  she  trundles 
towards  me !  and  see  the  flames  roll  out  of  her  mouth ! 
41 


482  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

She  is  the  blackest  fiend  in  the  whole  troop  of  them.  0 1 
0!  mercy  1  mercy!    I  die!" 

After  Taurus's  death  the  letter  was  sent  to  Mrs.  Waldron  ; 
and,  as  soon  as  it  was  received,  a  search  was  made  in  the 
cleft  of  Split  Rock,  and  the  mouldering  bones  of  the  inno- 
cent Benedict  brought  to  light. 

The  creeping  morning  glory  that  had  climbed  the  house- 
side  in  the  breeze  of  morning,  and  intwined  itself  about 
the  parent  stem  until  it  gave  abundant  promise  that  it 
would  be  the  solace  and  comfort  of  those  who  had  reared 
its  tender  shoot  and  watched  its  budding  beauty,  was 
ruthlessly  torn  from  the  spot  it  so  much  graced  by  the 
rude  hand  of  one  who  had  no  love  for  flowers,  and  flung, 
like  a  weed,  away  to  wither  and  decay  ;  but  the  great 
Gardener,  who  is  mindful  of  the  lily  of  the  garden  as  well 
as  the  lily  of  the  valley,  held  up  the  parent  vine  until  its 
lacerated  back  had  joined  again ;  and  the  bowed  head  was 
just  raising  itself  to  the  companionship  of  its  fellows  when 
another  missile,  hurled  from  the  same  hand,  tore  open  the 
wound  afresh  and  almost  laid  it  prostrate  in  the  dust. 

The  bones  of  little  Benedict  were  taken  from  Split 
Rock  all  mouldy  and  crumbling;  but  Rozella,  his  loving 
and  heart-broken  mother,  felt  that  she  could  not  suffer 
them  to  be  buried  without  seeing  them  ;  and,  although 
the  neighbors  had  advised  her  to  forego  the  sight,  she  still 
adhered  to  her  determination  ;  but,  when  she  saw  them,  her 
former  feelings  of  sorrow  and  anguish  revived  in  full  and 
fearful  force.  "  0,  was  it  through  my  negligence,"  moaned 
she,  u  that  you  fell  into  the  deadly  coils  of  the  serpent?" 

So  saying,  she  fell  into  strong  convulsions,  and  for  a 
long  time  lay  helpless  and  exhausted.  After  she  had 
revived  somewhat,  Waldron  tenderly  asked, u  Dear  Rozella, 
what  shall  we  do  for  you  ?  " 

44  Be  calm,"  replied  Rozella.  "  I  must  soon  go  beyond 
the  reach   of  human   sympathy  and  forever  be  at  rest ; 


LEGENDS   OF   LACONIA.  483 

and,  ere  I  go,  I  would  like  to  see  old  Mrs.  Emond,  though 
I  fear  she  is  too  blind  and  decrepit  to  be  moved  hither." 

"  I  do  not  know,  dear  Rozella,"  replied  Waidron.  "Sho 
is  indeed  very  aged  and  infirm  ;  but  I  will  see  what  can  bo 
done." 

And  Captain  Waidron,  the  heroic  soldier  who  had  so 
bravely  led  on  the  fiery  Mountain  Rangers  to  glorious  vic- 
tory at  the  very  cannon's  mouth,  never  looked  so  really  and 
truly  noble  as  when  at  the  head  of  his  oxen  and  cart, 
within  which  last  he  had  placed  an  easy  chair,  he  started 
off  with  tears  in  his  eyes  for  old  Mrs.  Emond.  Scout  the 
idea  as  you  will,  0  hale  and  stouthearted  man  of  the  world, 
there  is  a  latent  yet  mighty  power  she  wields  that  you 
know  not  of.  There  are  those  who  would  rather  have  an 
old  Mrs.  Emond's  prayers  to  turn  the  bolt  of  justice  in  the 
safety  lock  of  Heaven  and  open  its  pearly  gates  to  a 
trembling  soul  than  all  the  gold  of  earth,  made  into  one 
solid  key  and  borne  thither  upon  the  shoulders  of  all  the 
greatest  warriors  of  earth,  to  buy  admittance  or  force  an 
entrance  there. 

Waidron  soon  returned  with  Mrs.  Emond,  who  was  all 
bent  down  and  blind  with  age,  for  she  was  obliged  to  be 
led  wherever  she  wished  to  go  ;  but,  though  blind,  she  still 
saw  with  the  eye  of  faith,  and,  though  lame,  she  walked  by 
the  same  supporting  power  ;  and  though  her  cracked  and 
piping  voice  came  indistinctly  through  her  sunken  lips, 
yet  Heaven  bent  low  its  ear  of  mercy  to  catch  her  lisping 
prayer.  Being  led  to  Rozella's  bedside,  she  placed  her  with- 
ered hand  upon  her  fevered  brow,  and,  raising  her  dim 
and  filmy  eyes  to  heaven,  exclaimed,  "  Father,  be  merciful 
to  the  child,  for  she  hath  shown  mercy  to  others,  Rozella, 
receive  my  blessing.    Heaven  is  kifld,  and  you  must  live." 

"  Ah,  dear  mother  in  Israel"  replied  Rozella, " I  feel  the 
pleasing  thrill  of  you?  hand  through  every  fibre  of  my 
exhausted  frame*  and  my  troubled  spirit  is  at  rest    I  see 


484  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

it  all  now.  His  afflictions  are  sweeter  than  the  ■balmy- 
breezes  from  beds  of  mountain  daisies ;  and  even  his  chas- 
tenings  refresh  my  soul.  His  rod  but  beats  the  dust  from 
the  veil  of  my  spirit ;  so  I  now  see  ;  and  his  hand  has  but 
unchained  my  chariot  wheels  and  sped  me  on  my  way. 
Lord,  do  with  me  as  seemeth  good  to  thee,  and  thy  servant 
will  nevermore  murmur  nor  repine." 

"  Child,"  cried  Mrs.  Emond,  "  thou  art  healed." 
And  Rozella  from  that  hour  arose  and  took  charge  of  her 
house,  of  which  she  made  Mrs.  Emond  the  chief  ornament, 
and  entreated  the  good  old  lady  to  consider  it  as  her  home 
for  the  remainder  of  her  days.  But  she  was  so  much  at- 
tached to  her  own  rustic  abode  that  she  did  not  feel  at 
liberty  to  accept  Rozella's  generous  offer,  but  chose  rather 
to  die  where  she  had  so  long  lived  —  in  her  own  humble  cot- 
tage ;  and  one  day,  not  long  afterwards,  the  neighbors,  on 
calling4 at  her  house,  found  her  sitting  in  her  high-backed 
chair  with  her  hands  clasped  together,  and  her  eyes  raised 
to  heaven  as  though  they  were  gazing  after  her  spirit ;  for 
the  angels  had  come  on  balmy  wings  of  love  and  wafted 
it  home. 

From  the  time  of  that  terrible  and  bloody  scourge  — 
the  Indian  and  French  war  —  Laconia  had  gone  on  most 
prosperously.  The  lines  of  the  towns  had  been  run,  and 
the  old  homestead  of  Squire  Langdell  fell  within  the  town 
of  Rochester.  The  good  squire  was  among  the  first  and  best 
settlers,  and  had  ever  been  a  shining  example  to  the  rising 
generation.  The  whole  state  was  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion ;  and,  as  usual  in  all  old-settled  countries,  the  younger 
portion  of  the  inhabitants  now  began  to  emigrate,  and  the 
brave  old  Green  Mountain  State  was  fast  peopled  by  her 
hardy  sons,  as  they,  even  in  those  early  days,  began  to 
push  the  rod  of  empire  farther  west.  While  the  wars  were 
carried  on  by  the  English  against  the  French  and  Indians, 


LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA.  485 

it  was  necessary  that  numerous  bodies  of  troops  should 
pass  and  repass  through  the  green  and  fertile  country  now 
known  and  honored  as  the  State  of  Vermont.  The  sol- 
diers, who  had  not  only  an  eye  on  the  enemy,  but  on  the 
land  also  through  which  they  marched,  had  noticed  the 
richness  and  fertility  of  its  soil ;  and,  when  hostilities  had 
ceased,  a  swarm  of  adventurers  settled  upon  these  produc- 
tive lands  for  the  sake  of  the  bounty ;  for  the  governors 
of  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  as  eagerly  granted  the 
lands  to  the  settlers  as  they  obtained  their  grants.  But 
the  governors  also,  who  eagerly  extended  their  jurisdic- 
tions as  far  as  possible,  interfered  with  each  other's  claims, 
and  a  serious  quarrel  would  have  been  the  consequence 
but  for  the  revolutionary  spirit  towards  England,  which 
now  began  to  manifest  itself,  and  which  diverted  the  at- 
tention of  the  settlers  from  the  difficulties  at  home.  Many 
of  the  brave  heroes  of  Laconia  joined  in  the  revolution 
and  fought  with  patriotic  valor,  gaining  rich  crowns  of 
honor  by  giving  up  a  crown  and  throne  of  blood.  Grizzly 
Gridley  and  the  heroic  Georgietta  lived  happily  together 
to  an  advanced  age,  and  reared  a  numerous  family  to  as- 
sist in  peopling  the  adjoining  states  as  well  as  Laconia. 
Gridley  was  considered  one  of  the  first  men  in  his  town- 
ship, was  often  at  the  head  of  town  affairs,  and  acquitted 
himself  creditably  in  whatever  business  he  undertook ; 
while  his  wife  graced  whatever  circle  she  honored  with  her 
presence. 

Squire  Matthew  Langdell  and  his  wife  lived  only  to  see 
the  commencement  of  the  revolution ;  and,  although  he 
always  seemed  attached  to  the  cause  and  crown  of  his  dear 
old  king,  no  man  was  a  better  or  truer  friend  and  citizen 
or  a  greater  honor  to  the  good  land  of  Laconia.  He  chose 
his  burial-place  by  the  side  of  a  little  babbling  brook  not 
far  from  his  old  residence,  where  the  rising  mound  yet 
41* 


486  LEGENDS  OP  LACONIA. 

attracts  the  notice  of  the  passer  by,  as  it  reminds  him 
that  here  are  "  the  old  folks  at  home." 

Comical  Plump  and  the  brighteyed  Owega  were  among 
the  happiest  of  the  happy ;  and  at  the  close  of  the 
revolution  the  old  owl  king  did  indeed  abdicate  the 
throne  of  blood  ;  for  Plump,  at  heart,  always  abhorred 
the  business  of  human  butchery,  and,  as  in  the  St.  Francis 
expedition,  always  declared  that  his  taking  up  arms  and 
the  slaying  of  the  Hingins  the  old  owl  king  ate  for  his 
breakfast  was  only  the  natural  result  of  "  the  force  of  cir- 
cumstances." He  spent  a  part  of  his  life  in  Laconia  ;  but 
after  the  revolution  declared,  as  also  did  Owega,  that  the 
country  was  getting  old  and  dull ;  and,  as  they  liked  best 
the  spirit-stirring  life  of  the  woods,  they  finally  emigrated 
to  the  west.  There  both  spent  the  greater  part  of  their 
time  in  hunting  and  fishing;  and  the  gun  of  no  hunter 
could  bring  down  the  bounding  deer  at  a  greater  distance 
than  the  old  owl  king  of  Comical  Plump,  and  he  finally 
preached  and  practised  in  the  same  direction. 

Poor  blind  Sarah  died  at  an  early  age  ;  but,  after  the 
death  of  old  Mrs.  Emond,  she  seemed  quite  lonely  and 
disconsolate,  and  hailed  with  joy  the  grim  archer. whose 
fatal  shaft  summoned  her  to  rejoin  her  dear  and  venerable 
friend. 

The  little  Dutchman  of  the  Buck's  Horn  Inn  and  his 
plump  vrow  were  still  a  hale  and  hearty  old  couple,  and 
kept  the  sign  in  front  of  the  little  red  inn  still  swinging 
and  screeching,  as  a  welcome,  though  not  very  agreeable, 
sound  to  the  ears  of  those  who  believed  in  ghosts  that 
here  was  to  be  found  entertainment  for  man  and  beast. 

Ensign  Wiley  Walcott  came  out  of  his  fiery  trial  puri- 
fied by  the  process.  He  subsequently  married  Miss  Agnes 
Tufton,  sister  of  the  pure  but  unfortunate  Elsie,  and  lived 
with  her  father,  an  honor  to  all  with  whom  he  associated. 


LEGENDS   OF    LACONIA.  487 

Marine  Lee  and  his  wife  always  resided  in  Laconia, 
and,  at  his  death,  was  heard  to  wish  "  that  he  might  soon 
sail  out  of  the  stormy  sea  with  all  his  sails  spread  and 
colors  flying  for  a  haven  of  rest  which  would  afford  good 
anchorage  for  a  weary  tar." 

"  Our  old  friends,"  said  Rozella  to  Waldron  one  morn- 
ing, "  are  nearly  all  gone  before  us.  We  have  been  spared 
to  see  nearly  all  of  them  depart,  and  their  graves  are  thick 
around  us." 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  captain,  with  a  deep  sigh  ;  "  Death 
shows  no  respect  to  persons  in  the  end,  although  he  seems 
often  to  take  the  best  and  loveliest  first ;  and  our  new 
soil  is  already  the  receptacle  of  many  a  bosom  which  beat 
high  with  glowing  hopes  and  fervent  wishes  for  the  pros- 
perity of  our  dear  land." 

"  I  have  been  thinking,"  said  Rozella,  "  that  I  should  like 
to  visit  the  graves  of  those  who  have  lived  and  died  our 
friends.  It  is  a  sort  of  melancholy  pleasure  thus  to  roam 
among  the  sleeping  dust  of  those  we  have  loved  ;  and, 
though  it  saddens,  it  also  softens  the  feelings  and  makes 
the  heart  purer  and  better." 

"  It  is  somewhat  solemn,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "  but,  if  you 
wish  it,  we  will  go.  There  is  a  sadness  even  in  visiting 
places  where  our  friends  have  lived  ;  yet  I  like  to  visit 
such  spots,  even  though  the  old  familiar  faces  are  no  more 
there  to  give  us  a  smiling  welcome  ;  though  the  grief  we 
feel  at  the  contrast  is  almost  too  severe  to  be  fully  com- 
pensated by  the  recollection  of  past  joys.  We  will  go,  if 
you  like,  to-day." 

They  started  on  their  mournful  mission  immediately 
after  dinner ;  and,  as  they  were  obliged  to  visit  several 
towns  in  the  vicinity,  Waldron  asked  Rozella  where  she 
would  like  to  go  first. 

"  To  the  grave,"  answered  she,  "  of  that  truest  and  best 
Indian  friend  (excepting  always  Owega)  I  ever  had  — 
Wenane." 


488  LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA. 

"  Well,"  replied  the  captain,  u  as  you  have  not  been 
there  for  a  long  time,  we  will  go  there  first." 

As  they  rode  along,  Rozella  remarked  that  she  ought  to 
have  visited  Wenane's  grave  before  now ;  for,  although  she 
had  been  there  many  times  since  he  died,  it  seemed  a  long 
time  since  she  was  last  there.  She  also  added  that  it  was 
the  earnest  wish  of  Chocorua  that  she  should  visit  it  often 
and  ever  hold  his  son  in  remembrance,  as  he  was  her  fast 
friend. 

"  There,"  said  Rozella,  as  they  drove  up  to  the  spot,  "  is 
the  same  little  rosebush  I  planted  many  years  ago  ;  and  it 
lives  and  flourishes  yet.  0,  he  was  a  true  Indian  and  a 
true  friend." 

"  He  was  so,"  replied  Waldron  ;  "  and  I  have  always 
regretted  the  death  of  his  brave  old  father.  True,  he 
had  the  passionate  temper  and  revengeful  disposition  of  a 
savage,  and  his  burning  the  house  of  poor  Grovenor,  with 
his  wife  and  little  ones,  was  a  most  inhuman  and  barbarous 
act ;  still  the  taking  of  his  life  did  not  pay  the  debt. 
It  never  repairs  the  injury  to  take  one  life  to  pay  for 
another." 

"  So  I  told  them  at  the  time,"  replied  Rozella  ;  "  but  my 
good  father  did  not  aid  in  taking  the  old  chief's  life,  for 
which  I  am  very  thankful." 

"  We  have  so  far  to  go,"  remarked  Waldron,  "  that  our 
stops  must  be  quite  short." 

They  next  visited  the  grave  of  Mrs.  Emond  ;  and  here 
their  feelings  got  the  mastery  of  them,  and  both  wept 
profusely  over  the  lonely  mound  without  a  stone  to  tell 
whose  peaceful  dust  slept  within.  But  a  halo  of  glory 
seemed  to  rest  upon  it ;  and  Rozella  remarked  that  doubt- 
less the  same  blessing  she  in  her  lifetime  had  so  freely 
given  to  others  now  rested  upon  herself.  She  added  that 
she  could  seem  to  feel  the  hallowed  influence  which  lin- 
gered about  the  spot  as  plainly  as  she  could  see  the  light 
that  came  trembling  through  the  air  above  her  head. 


LEGENDS  OF  LACONIA.  489 

The  grave  of  Marine  Lee  was  next  visited  ;  and  serious 
and  solemn  were  their  reflections  as  they  gazed  upon  the 
resting-place  of  the  noble-hearted  sailor. 

They  paused  for  a  moment  at  the  grave  of  blind  Sarah, 
who  now,  however,  could  see  eye  to  eye  and  know  as  she 
was  known,  and  then  hastened  to  another  and  dearer  spot 
—  the  grave  of  her  good  old  father  and  mother,  upon  the 
hillside,  near  the  little  brook.  The  winds  came  moaning 
down  the  mountain  slope,  the  tall  grass  lashed  the  ver- 
dant mound,  and  the  brook  babbled  noisily  by  its  side. 

"  It  is  a  solemn  place,"  remarked  Waldron, "  although  a 
pleasant  one." 

"  Ah,  yes,"  replied  Rozella  ;  "  the  little  brook  babbles 
mournfully  as  it  runs  away  to  tell  the  plaintive  tale." 

As  they  gazed  in  silence  at  the  stream  the  wild  brier 
bowed  to  kiss  its  rippling  bosom,  and  rose  with  a  pearly 
teardrop  glittering  upon  its  thorny  lashes.  But  the  old 
squire  slept  on,  for  his  grave  seemed  to  suit  him. 

"  Ah,"  said  Waldron,  "  he  was  a  good  man." 

"Yes,"  replied  Rozella,  "and  the  grave  was  only  the 
receiving  hall  into  which  he  has  stepped  to  throw  off  his 
earthly  garments  for  a  heavenly  robe.  Or  it  may  be 
likened  to  the  cocoon,  into  which  the  larva,  or  grub,  has 
retired  to  pass  through  the  chrysalis  state  to  that  of  the 
butterfly ;  and  when  his  white  wings  are  plumed  he  will 
emerge  and  soar  away  into  the  realms  of  infinite  space 
until  he  reaches  the  everlasting  gardens  of  paradise. 

"  Ah,"  continued  she,  "  how  many  of  our  dear  dead  lie 
around  us  !  And  never  in  so  brief  a  space  has  the  sharp 
sickle  of  Death  reaped  so  ripe  and  rich  a  harvest,  nor  the 
grim  angel  garnered  a  fairer  field,  as  in  this  our  long- 
loved  and  lovely  Laconia." 


Av< 


